How are Chemical Modifications Targeted in Cancer Therapy?
Targeting chemical modifications is a promising approach in cancer therapy. Several strategies are employed, including:
1. Inhibitors of DNA Methylation: Drugs like azacitidine and decitabine inhibit DNA methyltransferases, enzymes responsible for adding methyl groups to DNA, thereby reactivating tumor suppressor genes. 2. Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACi): These drugs, such as vorinostat and romidepsin, inhibit histone deacetylases, enzymes that remove acetyl groups from histones, leading to a more relaxed chromatin structure and increased gene expression. 3. Kinase Inhibitors: Small molecules that inhibit specific kinases can block aberrant phosphorylation events driving cancer cell growth. Examples include imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia and erlotinib for non-small cell lung cancer. 4. Proteasome Inhibitors: By inhibiting the proteasome, a complex responsible for degrading ubiquitinated proteins, drugs like bortezomib can induce the accumulation of defective proteins in cancer cells, leading to cell death.
