What are the Therapeutic Implications of Epigenetic Research?
Epigenetic therapies aim to reverse abnormal epigenetic modifications. Two main classes of drugs are currently used in clinical settings:
1. DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors (DNMTi): These drugs, such as azacitidine and decitabine, inhibit DNA methylation and reactivate silenced tumor suppressor genes. 2. Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACi): Drugs like vorinostat and romidepsin inhibit histone deacetylases, leading to an open chromatin structure and reactivation of gene expression.
These therapies have shown promise in treating hematological malignancies and are being explored for solid tumors.
