5-Hydroxymethylcytosine: a Potential Therapeutic Target in Cancer

Abstract

The ten-eleven translocation enzymes catalyze the conversion of 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, a distinct epigenetic mark that has an integral role in active demethylation. Genes that regulate the distribution and amount of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in the genome could be suitable therapeutic targets to correct abnormal methylation in cancer. Here, we present an overview of the role of the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine pathway in human disease and discuss the emergence of innovative techniques that can map the distribution of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine at high resolution. In the context of current epigenetic therapies and by using recent functional studies, we propose plausible mechanisms to target the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine pathway in cancer. As the study of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine is still in its infancy, we provide future perspectives.

Keywords::

• 5-hydroxymethylcytosine
• 5-methylcytosine
• cancer
• demethylation
• epigenetic therapy
• hydroxymethylation
• methylation

Financial & competing interests disclosure

EJ Rodger is supported by a grant awarded by the Healthcare Otago Charitable Trust. This funding body had no role in decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript. All authors are responsible for the intellectual planning, writing, reviewing drafts and final approval of the paper. The authors have no other 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 apart from those disclosed.

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

Additional information

Funding

EJ Rodger is supported by a grant awarded by the Healthcare Otago Charitable Trust. This funding body had no role in decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript. All authors are responsible for the intellectual planning, writing, reviewing drafts and final approval of the paper. The authors have no other 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 apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.