Bai Zhong-Tian, Bai Bing, Zhu Jun, Di Cui-Xia, Li Xun, Zhou Wen-Ce
The Second Department of General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China.
Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu, Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China.
Oncol Lett. 2018 Feb;15(2):2049-2056. doi: 10.3892/ol.2017.7597. Epub 2017 Dec 13.
Carcinogenesis is known to be primarily associated with gene mutations. Recently, increasing evidence has suggested that epigenetic events also serve crucial roles in tumor etiology. Environmental factors, including nutrition, toxicants and ethanol, are involved in carcinogenesis through inducing epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone deacetylase and miRNA regulation. Studying epigenetic mechanisms has facilitated the development of early diagnostic strategies and potential therapeutic avenues. Modulation at the epigenetic level, including reversing epigenetic modifications using targeted drugs, has demonstrated promise in cancer therapy. Therefore, identifying novel epigenetic biomarkers and therapeutic targets has potential for the future of cancer therapy. The present review discusses the environmental factors involved in epigenetic modifications and potential drug candidates for cancer therapy.
已知致癌作用主要与基因突变相关。最近，越来越多的证据表明表观遗传事件在肿瘤病因学中也起着关键作用。环境因素，包括营养、毒物和乙醇，通过诱导表观遗传修饰，如DNA甲基化、组蛋白去乙酰化酶和miRNA调控，参与致癌过程。对表观遗传机制的研究推动了早期诊断策略和潜在治疗途径的发展。在表观遗传水平上的调控，包括使用靶向药物逆转表观遗传修饰，已在癌症治疗中显示出前景。因此，识别新的表观遗传生物标志物和治疗靶点对癌症治疗的未来具有潜力。本综述讨论了参与表观遗传修饰的环境因素以及癌症治疗的潜在候选药物。
