The Role of Epigenetics in Cancer Drug Resistance

Abstract

Cancer is caused by aberrant genetic and epigenetic changes in genes expression. DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNAs gene deregulation are the most known epigenetic changes in different stages of cancer. Since every tumor has its own specific epigenome, any abnormal pattern is a potential biomarker for classification of different types of tumors. Despite, tumorigenesis, abnormal epigenetic changes are highly correlated with drug resistance in various stages of cancer. But, reversible nature of these abnormalities is the basis of epigenetic cancer treatment. Drugs affecting the epigenome are the new hopes in cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of epigenetics in tumorigenesis and also drug resistance in cancers.

Keywords

• epigenetic
• drug resistance
• cancer