Frontiers in Pharmacology (Apr 2024)

Research progress and applications of epigenetic biomarkers in cancer

  • Jianjun Gao,
  • Wujiang Shi,
  • Jiangang Wang,
  • Canghai Guan,
  • Qingfu Dong,
  • Jialin Sheng,
  • Xinlei Zou,
  • Zhaoqiang Xu,
  • Yifei Ge,
  • Chengru Yang,
  • Jiehan Li,
  • Haolin Bao,
  • Xiangyu Zhong,
  • Yunfu Cui

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2024.1308309
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15

Abstract

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Epigenetic changes are heritable changes in gene expression without changes in the nucleotide sequence of genes. Epigenetic changes play an important role in the development of cancer and in the process of malignancy metastasis. Previous studies have shown that abnormal epigenetic changes can be used as biomarkers for disease status and disease prediction. The reversibility and controllability of epigenetic modification changes also provide new strategies for early disease prevention and treatment. In addition, corresponding drug development has also reached the clinical stage. In this paper, we will discuss the recent progress and application status of tumor epigenetic biomarkers from three perspectives: DNA methylation, non-coding RNA, and histone modification, in order to provide new opportunities for additional tumor research and applications.

Keywords