Chapter category: DNA

DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors: Paving the Way for Epigenetic Cancer Therapeutics

This chapter appears in the following book:

DNA Methylation and Cancer Therapy

Edited by: Moshe Szyf
ISBN: 0-306-47848-X
» Get more information about this book at landesbioscience.com «

Chapter authors:
Gregory K. Reid and A. Robert MacLeod

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Our increased understanding of the molecular pathophysiology of cancer is beginning to impact our ability to effectively treat this disease. The recent success of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Gleevec™ is a prime example of this. In this case, the molecular etiology of the disease (chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)) was understood and targeted with a highly selective pharmaceutical agent, the result being dramatic clinical benefit and amazingly few side effects.1 While only the beginning, this success story provides renewed hope that the ultimate goal of conquering cancer is attainable. However, CML and GIST are quite rare, and in genetic terms, very simple forms of cancer. The BCR-ABL translocation is the principal, if not the sole genetic alteration leading to this disease. This is in contrast to the situation that exists for more prevalent tumors such as those of the lung, breast, colon and others, where dozens of genetic abnormalities (translocations, chromosome duplication, and deletions) are seen. Understandably, these have proven more difficult to treat; however, further insights into the molecular events at work in these more complex tumors will certainly yield improved therapeutic strategies.

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Chapter category: DNA

DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors: Paving the Way for Epigenetic Cancer Therapeutics

Additional chapters from this book:

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