Epigenetic therapy of cancer stem and progenitor cells by targeting DNA methylation machineries  

作　　者：Patompon Wongtrakoongate 

机构地区：[1]Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

出　　处：《World Journal of Stem Cells》2015年第1期137-148,共12页世界干细胞杂志（英文版）（电子版）

摘　　要：Recent advances in stem cell biology have shed light on how normal stem and progenitor cells can evolve to acquire malignant characteristics during tumorigenesis. The cancer counterparts of normal stem and progenitor cells might be occurred through alterations of stem cell fates including an increase in self-renewal capability and a decrease in differentiation and/or apoptosis. This oncogenic evolution of cancer stem and progenitor cells, which often associates with aggressive phenotypes of the tumorigenic cells, is controlled in part by dysregulated epigenetic mechanisms including aberrant DNA methylation leading to abnormal epigenetic memory. Epigenetic therapy by targeting DNA methyltransferases(DNMT) 1, DNMT3 A and DNMT3 B via 5-Azacytidine(Aza) and 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine(Aza-d C) has proved to be successfultoward treatment of hematologic neoplasms especially for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. In this review, I summarize the current knowledge of mechanisms underlying the inhibition of DNA methylation by Aza andAza-d C, and of their apoptotic- and differentiation-inducingeffects on cancer stem and progenitor cells in leukemia, medulloblastoma, glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and testicular germ cell tumors. Since cancer stem and progenitor cells are implicatedin cancer aggressiveness such as tumor formation, progression, metastasis and recurrence, I propose that effective therapeutic strategies might be achievedthrough eradication of cancer stem and progenitor cells by targeting the DNA methylation machineries to interfere their "malignant memory".Recent advances in stem cell biology have shed light onhow normal stem and progenitor cells can evolve to acquiremalignant characteristics during tumorigenesis. The cancercounterparts of normal stem and progenitor cells might beoccurred through alterations of stem cell fates includingan increase in self-renewal capability and a decreasein differentiation and/or apoptosis. This oncogenicevolution of cancer stem and progenitor cells, which oftenassociates with aggressive phenotypes of the tumorigeniccells, is controlled in part by dysregulated epigeneticmechanisms including aberrant DNA methylation leadingto abnormal epigenetic memory. Epigenetic therapy bytargeting DNA methyltransferases （DNMT） 1, DNMT3Aand DNMT3B via 5-Azacytidine （Aza） and 5-Aza-2＇-deoxycytidine （Aza-dC） has proved to be successfultoward treatment of hematologic neoplasms especially forpatients with myelodysplastic syndrome. In this review,I summarize the current knowledge of mechanismsunderlying the inhibition of DNA methylation by Aza andAza-dC, and of their apoptotic- and differentiation-inducingeffects on cancer stem and progenitor cells in leukemia,medulloblastoma, glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, prostatecancer, pancreatic cancer and testicular germ cell tumors.Since cancer stem and progenitor cells are implicatedin cancer aggressiveness such as tumor formation,progression, metastasis and recurrence, I proposethat effective therapeutic strategies might be achievedthrough eradication of cancer stem and progenitor cellsby targeting the DNA methylation machineries to interferetheir ＂malignant memory＂.

关 键 词：CANCER STEM and PROGENITOR cells DNAMETHYLATION EPIGENETIC therapy Aza-cytidine Azadeoxycytidine 

分 类 号：R730.5[医药卫生—肿瘤]