Question

.Epigenetic drugs are being developed for cancer therapy. Which of the following statements are true?

Select all that apply.
First-generation epigenetic drugs have focused on the reactivation of genes silenced by methylation or histone modification.
Approved epigenetic drugs have solved the issue of needing a combination of anticancer drugs, curing many forms of lymphoma on their own.
Drugs that inhibit histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been used to silence oncogenes.
An advantage of epigenetic drugs could be that unlike genetic alterations, epigenetic changes are potentially reversible.

Answer 1

Epigenetic drugs, like DNA methyltransferase inhibitors and HDAC inhibitors, are designed to reverse the epigenetic silencing of genes, which can include tumor suppressor genes, hence they have potential in cancer treatment. They do not alter the DNA sequence, making epigenetic changes reversible and offering a significant advantage. However, these drugs have not eliminated the need for combination therapy in cancer treatments.

Step-by-step explanation:

First-generation epigenetic drugs have indeed focused on reversing gene silencing, which is often accomplished through mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modification. These drugs, such as DNA methyltransferase inhibitors and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, aim to reactivate genes that have been inappropriately silenced in cancer cells. Such silenced genes might include tumor suppressor genes, and their reactivation can lead to the inhibition of tumour growth and progression.

One of the main advantages of epigenetic drugs is that they exploit the reversible nature of epigenetic changes. Unlike genetic mutations, epigenetic modifications do not entail changes to the DNA sequence and can be modified by therapeutic agents. Consequently, they hold great promise in cancer therapy as they can potentially restore the normal patterns of gene expression that are often disrupted in cancer cells.

HDAC inhibitors have been utilized in cancer treatment to increase histone acetylation, resulting in a more open chromatin structure and activation of previously silenced genes, including tumor suppressor genes. However, approved epigenetic drugs have not replaced the need for combination therapy in cancer treatment, and they are not standalone cures for many forms of cancer, including various lymphomas.

Answer 2

Epigenetic drugs work by reversing specific reversible modifications like DNA methylation and histone deacetylation that silence tumor suppressor genes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Epigenetic drugs are a new class of cancer therapy that target the reversible nature of epigenetic modifications to treat cancer. These drugs primarily work by decreasing DNA methylation and preventing the removal of acetyl groups from histone proteins.

By interfering with these epigenetic processes, these drugs can reactivate silenced genes, such as tumor suppressor genes, and thus may inhibit the growth of tumor cells.

It is important to note that while first-generation epigenetic drugs have focused on reactivating genes that have been silenced by methylation or histone modification, they have not made other anticancer drugs unnecessary.

Approved epigenetic drugs have not cured many forms of lymphoma on their own and still require combination with other therapies.