TY - JOUR
T1 - Epigenetic regulation of prostate cancer
T2 - The theories and the clinical implications
AU - Liao, Yiji
AU - Xu, Kexin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s)(2018).
PY - 2019/5/1
Y1 - 2019/5/1
N2 - Epigenetics is the main mechanism that controls transcription of specific genes with no changes in the underlying DNA sequences. Epigenetic alterations lead to abnormal gene expression patterns that contribute to carcinogenesis and persist throughout disease progression. Because of the reversible nature, epigenetic modifications emerge as promising anticancer drug targets. Several compounds have been developed to reverse the aberrant activities of enzymes involved in epigenetic regulation, and some of them show encouraging results in both preclinical and clinical studies. In this article, we comprehensively review the up-to-date roles of epigenetics in the development and progression of prostate cancer. We especially focus on three epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs. We elaborate on current models/theories that explain the necessity of these epigenetic programs in driving the malignant phenotypes of prostate cancer cells. In particular, we elucidate how certain epigenetic regulators crosstalk with critical biological pathways, such as androgen receptor (AR) signaling, and how the cooperation dynamically controls cancer-oriented transcriptional profiles. Restoration of a 'normal' epigenetic landscape holds promise as a cure for prostate cancer, so we concluded by highlighting particular epigenetic modifications as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers or new therapeutic targets for treatment of the disease.
AB - Epigenetics is the main mechanism that controls transcription of specific genes with no changes in the underlying DNA sequences. Epigenetic alterations lead to abnormal gene expression patterns that contribute to carcinogenesis and persist throughout disease progression. Because of the reversible nature, epigenetic modifications emerge as promising anticancer drug targets. Several compounds have been developed to reverse the aberrant activities of enzymes involved in epigenetic regulation, and some of them show encouraging results in both preclinical and clinical studies. In this article, we comprehensively review the up-to-date roles of epigenetics in the development and progression of prostate cancer. We especially focus on three epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs. We elaborate on current models/theories that explain the necessity of these epigenetic programs in driving the malignant phenotypes of prostate cancer cells. In particular, we elucidate how certain epigenetic regulators crosstalk with critical biological pathways, such as androgen receptor (AR) signaling, and how the cooperation dynamically controls cancer-oriented transcriptional profiles. Restoration of a 'normal' epigenetic landscape holds promise as a cure for prostate cancer, so we concluded by highlighting particular epigenetic modifications as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers or new therapeutic targets for treatment of the disease.
KW - Androgen receptor signaling
KW - Diagnostic/prognostic/predictive biomarkers
KW - Epigenetic therapy
KW - Epigenetics
KW - Gene expression regulation
KW - Prostate cancer
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U2 - 10.4103/aja.aja_53_18
DO - 10.4103/aja.aja_53_18
M3 - Review article
C2 - 30084432
AN - SCOPUS:85055279287
SN - 1008-682X
VL - 21
SP - 279
EP - 290
JO - Asian Journal of Andrology
JF - Asian Journal of Andrology
IS - 3
ER -