Epigenetic Alternations in Endometrial Cancer; Future Strategies for Treatment

The incidence of endometrial cancer (EC) is increasing globally, with a projected continued rise in the number of affected individuals, particularly among younger patient populations. The range of therapy options is limited upon recurrence. Epigenetics pertains to modifications to the genetic material that are independent of the DNA sequence and have the potential to be transmitted across successive generations. The aim of this study is to understanding the epigenetic irregularities in the progression of EC and their potential impact on effective targeted therapies.

Articles are found in the PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct databases by utilizing a combination of keywords. By screening through the references in the publications that were evaluated, several interesting articles were found.

Significant disparities in gene promoter methylation patterns have been seen in the RASSF1A and MLH1 genes when comparing endometrial cancer to non-neoplastic endometrium. Moreover, the levels of histone deacetylases are elevated in EC in comparison to the normal endometrium.

There are a number of epigenetic modifications that target recognized pathways that may alternatively or simultaneously contain genetic abnormalities in EC.