Progress in Medical Sciences. 2023;
7(5):(99-110)
Epigenetic Aberrancies as the Exclusive Driver of Oncogenic Amplifications
M Nezami*, Steven Hager DO and Aryan Chaychian
Abstract
Three genetic mechanisms, including mutations, gene amplification, and chromosome rearrangements,
have been recognized as drivers of oncogene activation in human neoplasms. These mechanisms result in
either an alteration of protooncogene structure or an increase in protooncogene expression. While the role
of epigenetic aberrancies in carcinogenesis has been previously described, the biological implications of
epigenetic therapies for cancer prevention and the underlying mechanisms remain a mystery to clinicians.
Moreover, there is a lack of biomarkers to track the steps of carcinogenesis before cancer develops, leading
to a deficiency in proactive and preventive measures. All recommendations in preventive oncology are
either incomplete, blindly made, or via screening methods which are only able to detect cancer after it has
already initiated. In this article, we present a novel approach that bridges the gap between clinical findings
and research, generating advanced hypotheses on the development of cancer.
We explore the relationship between the host and tumor cells, highlighting the role of specific cancer stem
cell pathways and proposing the use of multi-targeted epigenetic therapies and off- label medications to
inhibit tumor initiators. By considering this complex biological network, we believe that the treatment of
cancer can be revolutionized. Additionally, we discuss the novel idea of epigenetic abnormalities as the
main cause of tumor oncogenic amplifications, shedding light on the promise of epigenetic therapies to
reverse and treat these aberrancies.
