6 research outputs found
Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms: Focusing on the Epigenetic Alterations
Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms (TENs) represent the most common tumors of the thymus gland. Epigenetic alterations are generally involved in initiation and progression of various cancer entities. However, little is known about the role of epigenetic modifications in TENs. In order to identify relevant studies, a literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and LIVIVO databases. The search terms thymoma, thymic carcinoma, thymic epithelial neoplasm, epigenetics, DNA methylation, HDAC and miRNA were employed and we were able to identify forty studies focused on TENs and published between 1997 and 2021. Aberrant epigenetic alterations seem to be involved in the tumorigenesis of thymomas and thymic carcinomas, with numerous studies reporting on non-coding RNA clusters and altered gene methylation as possible biomarkers in different types of TENs. Interestingly, Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors have shown potent antitumor effects in clinical trials, thus possibly representing effective epigenetic therapeutic agents in TENs. Additional studies in larger patient cohorts are, nevertheless, needed to verify the clinical utility and safety of novel epigenetic agents in the treatment of patients with TENs
Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms: Focusing on the Epigenetic Alterations
Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms (TENs) represent the most common tumors of the thymus gland. Epigenetic alterations are generally involved in initiation and progression of various cancer entities. However, little is known about the role of epigenetic modifications in TENs. In order to identify relevant studies, a literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and LIVIVO databases. The search terms thymoma, thymic carcinoma, thymic epithelial neoplasm, epigenetics, DNA methylation, HDAC and miRNA were employed and we were able to identify forty studies focused on TENs and published between 1997 and 2021. Aberrant epigenetic alterations seem to be involved in the tumorigenesis of thymomas and thymic carcinomas, with numerous studies reporting on non-coding RNA clusters and altered gene methylation as possible biomarkers in different types of TENs. Interestingly, Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors have shown potent antitumor effects in clinical trials, thus possibly representing effective epigenetic therapeutic agents in TENs. Additional studies in larger patient cohorts are, nevertheless, needed to verify the clinical utility and safety of novel epigenetic agents in the treatment of patients with TENs
EPH/Ephrin-Targeting Treatment in Breast Cancer: A New Chapter in Breast Cancer Therapy
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor in women. Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptors (EPHs), receptor tyrosine kinases binding the membrane-bound proteins ephrins, are differentially expressed in BC, and correlate with carcinogenesis and tumor progression. With a view to examining available therapeutics targeting the EPH/ephrin system in BC, a literature review was conducted, using the MEDLINE, LIVIVO, and Google Scholar databases. EPHA2 is the most studied EPH/ephrin target in BC treatment. The targeting of EPHA2, EPHA10, EPHB4, ephrin-A2, ephrin-A4, as well as ephrin-B2 in BC cells or xenograft models is associated with apoptosis induction, tumor regression, anticancer immune response activation, and impaired cell motility. In conclusion, EPHs/ephrins seem to represent promising future treatment targets in BC
Expression and promoter methylation status of hMLH1, MGMT, APC, and CDH1 genes in patients with colon adenocarcinoma
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in men and the
second in women worldwide. CRC development is the result of genetic and
epigenetic alterations accumulation in the epithelial cells of colon
mucosa. In the present study, DNA methylation, an epigenetic event, was
evaluated in tumoral and matching normal epithelium in a cohort of 61
CRC patients. The results confirmed and expanded knowledge for the tumor
suppressor genes hMLH1, MGMT, APC, and CDH1. Promoter methylation was
observed for all the examined genes in different percentage. A total of
71% and 10% of the examined cases were found to be methylated in two
or more and in all genes, respectively. mRNA and protein levels were
also evaluated. Promoter methylation of hMLH1, MGMT, APC, and CDH1 genes
was present at the early stages of tumor’s formation and it could also
be detected in the normal mucosa. Correlations of the methylated genes
with patient’s age and tumor’s clinicopathological characteristics were
also observed. Our findings suggest that DNA methylation is a useful
marker for tumor progression monitoring and that promoter methylation in
certain genes is associated with more advanced tumor stage, poor
differentiation, and metastasis