JLE

Bulletin du Cancer

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Role of histone deacetylase inhibitors in antitumor therapy Volume 93, supplement 4, Numéro hors-série, Avril 2006

Authors
UPR9079 CNRS, Ligue nationale contre le cancer, 7, rue Guy-Môquet, 94800 Villejuif

The emerging concept of epigenome addresses the complex mechanisms which participate to the regulation of transcription through local chromatin structures. Chromatin architecture plays a determinant role in the accessibility of protein structures to gene promoters. Histone actetylation is one of the main mechanisms involved in transcriptional activation, while deacetylation is associated with transcriptional repression. It has been shown recently that the the disruption of the equilibrium between chromatin acetylation and deacetylation could participate to oncogenic transformation. Thus, the modulation of histone acetylation would allow a genetic reprogramming, in favor, especially, of the generation of an anti-apoptotic programme in the cancer cell. Histone deacetylase inhibitors represent a new concept in anticancer therapy and allow innovative pharmocological approaches.