Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2011, 12(7), 4465-4476; doi:10.3390/ijms12074465
Review

Epigenetic Therapy for Breast Cancer

Feng-Feng Cai 1 email, Corina Kohler 1 email, Bei Zhang 1 email, Ming-Hong Wang 2 email, Wei-Jie Chen 1 email and Xiao-Yan Zhong 1,* email
1 Laboratory for Gynecological Oncology, Department of Biomedicine, Women’s Hospital, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, Room 420, Basel, CH 4031, Switzerland 2 Department of General Practice Medicine, Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 20 May 2011; in revised form: 30 June 2011 / Accepted: 1 July 2011 / Published: 11 July 2011
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Diagnostics)
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Abstract: Both genetic and epigenetic alterations can control the progression of cancer. Genetic alterations are impossible to reverse, while epigenetic alterations are reversible. This advantage suggests that epigenetic modifications should be preferred in therapy applications. DNA methyltransferases and histone deacetylases have become the primary targets for studies in epigenetic therapy. Some DNA methylation inhibitors and histone deacetylation inhibitors are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, the uses of epigenetic targets are believed to have great potential as a lasting favorable approach in treating breast cancer.
Keywords: breast cancer; epigenetic therapy; DNA methylation inhibitors; Histone deacetylation inhibitors

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Cai, F.-F.; Kohler, C.; Zhang, B.; Wang, M.-H.; Chen, W.-J.; Zhong, X.-Y. Epigenetic Therapy for Breast Cancer. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2011, 12, 4465-4476.

AMA Style

Cai F-F, Kohler C, Zhang B, Wang M-H, Chen W-J, Zhong X-Y. Epigenetic Therapy for Breast Cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2011; 12(7):4465-4476.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cai, Feng-Feng; Kohler, Corina; Zhang, Bei; Wang, Ming-Hong; Chen, Wei-Jie; Zhong, Xiao-Yan. 2011. "Epigenetic Therapy for Breast Cancer." Int. J. Mol. Sci. 12, no. 7: 4465-4476.

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