Review

Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), IFOM-IEO Campus, Via Adamello 16, Milan, Italy

† Author for correspondence

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Email the corresponding author at diego.pasini@ifom-ieo-campus.it

Published Online:21 Dec 2010https://doi.org/10.2217/fon.10.157

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Abstract

The role of chromatin-modifying factors in cancer biology emerged exponentially in the last 10 years, and increased attention has been focused on Polycomb group (PcG) proteins and their enzymatic activities. PcG proteins are repressive chromatin modifiers required for proliferation and development. The frequent deregulation of PcG activities in human tumors has direct oncogenic effects and results, essential for cancer cell proliferation. Here we will review the recent findings regarding PcG proteins in prospective tumor development, focusing on the molecular mechanisms that deregulate PcG expression in different tumors, at the downstream pathways to PcG expression (that contribute to cancer development) and at the mechanisms that regulate PcG recruitment to specific targets. Finally, we will speculate on the benefit of PcG inhibition for cancer treatment, reviewing potential pharmacological strategies.

Keywords:

Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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Published online 21 December 2010

Published in print January 2011

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AcknowledgementsWe thank the members of Diego Pasini’s laboratory for critical reading.

Financial & competing interests disclosureThe work in Diego Pasini’s laboratory is supported by the Italian Association of Cancer Research (AIRC) and by the Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute). 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.

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Epigenetic factors in cancer development: Polycomb group proteins

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