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Review

Targeting the epigenome in ovarian cancer

    Susan K Murphy

    Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology & Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, PO Box 91012, Durham, NC 27708, USA.

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    Email the corresponding author at susan.murphy@duke.edu

    Published Online:16 Feb 2012https://doi.org/10.2217/fon.11.152

    Abstract

    Epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecological cancers, largely owing to the development of recurrent intractable disease. Only a small number of distinct genetic mutations are known to contribute to ovarian carcinogenesis. Furthermore, understanding mechanistic genotype–phenotype links is complicated by frequent aneuploidy. Epigenetic deregulation is even more prominent, and ovarian cancers are replete with such aberrations that repress tumor suppressors and activate proto-oncogenes. Epigenetic therapies are emerging as promising agents for resensitizing platinum-resistant ovarian cancers. These drugs may also have the potential to alter epigenetic programming in cancer progenitor cells and provide a strategy for improving therapy of ovarian cancer.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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