Mining the epigenetic landscape of tissue polarity in search of new targets for cancer therapy.

Abstract

The epigenetic nature of cancer encourages the development of inhibitors of epigenetic pathways. Yet, the clinical use for solid tumors of approved epigenetic drugs is meager. We argue that this situation might improve upon understanding the coinfluence between epigenetic pathways and tissue architecture. We present emerging information on the epigenetic control of the polarity axis, a central feature of epithelial architecture created by the orderly distribution of multiprotein complexes at cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix contacts and altered upon cancer onset (with apical polarity loss), invasive progression (with basolateral polarity loss) and metastatic development (with basoapical polarity imbalance). This information combined with the impact of polarity-related proteins on epigenetic mechanisms of cancer enables us to envision how to guide the choice of drugs specific for distinct epigenetic modifiers, in order to halt cancer development and counter the consequences of polarity alterations.

• Authors: Farzaneh Atrian, Sophie A Lelièvre
• Journal: Epigenomics (Epigenomics) Vol. 7 Issue 8 Pg. 1313-25 ( 2015) ISSN: 1750-192X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26646365 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers

Topics

• Animals
• Biomarkers
• Data Mining (methods)
• Epigenesis, Genetic
• Epigenomics (methods)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Molecular Targeted Therapy
• Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, therapy)
• Organ Specificity (genetics)