TY - JOUR
T1 - Epigenetic dysregulation in cancer
T2 - mechanisms, diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic strategies
AU - Imran, Komal
AU - Iqbal, Muhammad Javed
AU - Ahmed, Muhammad Mushtaq
AU - Khalid, Ammara
AU - Cortés, Hernán
AU - Reyes-Hernández, Octavio Daniel
AU - Figueroa-González, Gabriela
AU - Leyva-Gómez, Gerardo
AU - Falzone, Luca
AU - Libra, Massimo
AU - Longo, Federica
AU - Sharifi-Rad, Javad
AU - Calina, Daniela
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.
PY - 2025/8
Y1 - 2025/8
N2 - The disruption of the epigenetic patterns and its impact on gene expression is recognized as a critical factor in the initiation and progression of cancer. Altered patterns of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression are distinctive features of tumorigenesis. These dynamic shifts in the epigenetic landscape during oncogenic transformation are intricately linked to tumor heterogeneity, the sustained capacity for self-renewal, and the ability to undergo multi-lineage differentiation. The abnormal reprogramming of cancer stem cells presents a formidable challenge in cancer treatment and drug resistance. However, the reversible nature of epigenetic modifications holds significant potential for developing novel cancer treatments through the targeted inhibition of epigenetic modifiers. Utilizing this approach as a standalone therapy or combined with other anticancer treatments has yielded promising outcomes. In this review, we emphasize the central role of epigenetic dysregulation in cancer pathogenesis, epigenetic changes in the cancer genome, and the latest advancements in cancer therapy, particularly the potential of epigenetic factors as biomarkers for early detection and their application in current cancer treatment modalities.
AB - The disruption of the epigenetic patterns and its impact on gene expression is recognized as a critical factor in the initiation and progression of cancer. Altered patterns of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression are distinctive features of tumorigenesis. These dynamic shifts in the epigenetic landscape during oncogenic transformation are intricately linked to tumor heterogeneity, the sustained capacity for self-renewal, and the ability to undergo multi-lineage differentiation. The abnormal reprogramming of cancer stem cells presents a formidable challenge in cancer treatment and drug resistance. However, the reversible nature of epigenetic modifications holds significant potential for developing novel cancer treatments through the targeted inhibition of epigenetic modifiers. Utilizing this approach as a standalone therapy or combined with other anticancer treatments has yielded promising outcomes. In this review, we emphasize the central role of epigenetic dysregulation in cancer pathogenesis, epigenetic changes in the cancer genome, and the latest advancements in cancer therapy, particularly the potential of epigenetic factors as biomarkers for early detection and their application in current cancer treatment modalities.
KW - Biomarkers
KW - Cancer
KW - DNA methylation
KW - Epigenetics
KW - Histone modifications
KW - Novel treatments
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105011354256
U2 - 10.1007/s12032-025-02905-z
DO - 10.1007/s12032-025-02905-z
M3 - Artículo de revisión
C2 - 40691387
AN - SCOPUS:105011354256
SN - 1357-0560
VL - 42
JO - Medical Oncology
JF - Medical Oncology
IS - 8
M1 - 359
ER -
