Molecular biology as a tool for the treatment of cancer

Abstract

Cancer is a genetic disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and metastasis. Cancer can have a number of causes, such the activation of oncogenes, the inactivation of tumor-suppressing genes, mutagenesis provoked by external factors, and epigenetic modifications. The development of diagnostic tools and treatments using a molecular biological approach permits the use of sensitive, low-cost, noninvasive tests for cancer patients. Biomarkers can be used to provide rapid, personalized oncology, in particular the molecular diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia, and gastric, colon, and breast cancers. Molecular tests based on DNA methylation can also be used to direct treatments or evaluate the toxic effects of chemotherapy. The adequate diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of the response of cancer patients to treatment are essential to ensure the most effective therapy, reduce the damaging effects of treatment, and direct the therapy to specific targets, and in this context, molecular biology has become increasingly important in oncology. In this brief review, we will demonstrate the fundamental importance of molecular biology for the treatment of three types of cancer-chronic myeloid leukemia, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, and astrocytomas (sporadic tumors of the central nervous system). In each of these three models, distinct biological mechanisms are involved in the transformation of the cells, but in all cases, molecular biology is fundamental to the development of personalized analyses for each patient and each type of neoplasia, and to guarantee the success of the treatment.

Bothrops moojeni L-amino acid oxidase induces apoptosis and epigenetic modulation on Bcr-Abl+ cells

“…Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein expression, which promotes the uncontrolled cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis [1,2]. The CML patients are currently treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) that target the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein, including imatinib mesylate, dasatinib, and nilotinib.…”

“…DNA methylation regulates gene transcription and maintain genome stability [11]. The presence of genespecific hypermethylation in the promoter region results in transcriptional repression of genes in different types of neoplastic cells [2,6,12].…”

Genomics Score Based on Genome-Wide Network Analysis for Prediction of Survival in Gastric Cancer: A Novel Prognostic Signature

“…Tumors are a product of multiple genetic mutations, including genetic (gene expression) and epigenetic (DNA methylation and histone modification) modifications, as well as deregulations of tumor-suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes ( Anna et al, 2018 ; Choi et al, 2019 ). In addition, changes in a set of genetic materials have been closely associated with cancer outcomes ( Anna et al, 2018 ; Choi et al, 2019 ). Therefore, to effectively predict the prognosis of tumors, such as GC, a single biomarker is insufficient, necessitating the need for a gene network.…”

“…Apart from genetics, epigenetics is currently receiving considerable research attention. DNA methylation is the most common epigenetic event associated with cancer development and progression ( Anna et al, 2018 ). Consequently, numerous studies have implicated DNA methylation in the diagnosis and the prognosis of various tumors, including GC ( Camargo et al, 2019 ; Choi et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Consequently, numerous studies have implicated DNA methylation in the diagnosis and the prognosis of various tumors, including GC ( Camargo et al, 2019 ; Choi et al, 2019 ). Although these studies have revealed several biomarkers that have proved to be prognostic predictors in GC, only a handful have been adopted in clinical therapies or are used to build predictive models for the disease ( Anna et al, 2018 ; Duarte et al, 2018 ; Camargo et al, 2019 ; Choi et al, 2019 ; Serra et al, 2019 ).…”