Abstract

In most cancers, a number of epigenetic alterations occur during all stages of carcinogenesis. These include global DNA hypomethylation, hypermethylation of key tumor suppressor genes, and histone modifications. Unlike genetic alterations, which are almost impossible to reverse, epigenetic aberrations are potentially reversible, allowing the malignant cell population to revert to a more normal state. With the advent of numerous drugs that target specific enzymes involved in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression, the utilization of epigenetic targets is emerging as an effective and valuable approach to chemotherapy. This revision is an overview of general epigenetic aspects involved in cancer and the potential utilization of drugs with effects in epigenetic targets that could be useful in cancer therapy.