How Do Histone Modifications Affect Cancer Development?
Histone modifications alter the chromatin structure, impacting gene accessibility. In cancer, aberrant histone modifications can lead to inappropriate gene expression. For instance, histone acetylation generally correlates with active transcription, while deacetylation is associated with gene repression. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDAC inhibitors) are being explored as potential cancer treatments because they can reactivate suppressed tumor suppressor genes.
