Epigenetics-Based Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies: Shifting the Paradigm in Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Despite recent advances, prostate cancer (PCa) remains a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. Clinically, PCa screening methods display low sensitivity and specificity, leading to suboptimal patient care. Recent research suggests that PCa progression is regulated by a coordinated spectrum of epigenetic alterations that notably involves noncoding RNAs. These molecular aberrations drive PCa progression by inducing gene expression programs that promote metastatic dissemination. Epigenetic proteins and noncoding RNAs can be detected noninvasively in body fluids, allowing improved PCa screening and prognosis. In addition, epigenetic alterations can be targeted pharmacologically, providing unprecedented therapeutic opportunities. This work reviews the current literature linking epigenetic dysregulation and PCa progression and proposes a framework for integrating epigenetic strategies into the clinical management of PCa.

Keywords::

• CBX2
• epigenetics
• EZH2
• liquid biopsy
• noncoding RNA
• prostate cancer
• therapeutics

Financial&competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.