Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms: Focusing on the Epigenetic Alterations |
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| Authors: | Iason Psilopatis Alexandros Pergaris Kleio Vrettou Stamatios Theocharis Constantinos Troungos |
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| Affiliation: | 1.First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Bld 10, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece; (I.P.); (A.P.); (K.V.); (S.T.);2.Charité-University School of Medicine, Augustenburger Pl. 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany;3.Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Bld 16, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece |
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| Abstract: | Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms (TENs) represent the most common tumors of the thymus gland. Epigenetic alterations are generally involved in initiation and progression of various cancer entities. However, little is known about the role of epigenetic modifications in TENs. In order to identify relevant studies, a literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and LIVIVO databases. The search terms thymoma, thymic carcinoma, thymic epithelial neoplasm, epigenetics, DNA methylation, HDAC and miRNA were employed and we were able to identify forty studies focused on TENs and published between 1997 and 2021. Aberrant epigenetic alterations seem to be involved in the tumorigenesis of thymomas and thymic carcinomas, with numerous studies reporting on non-coding RNA clusters and altered gene methylation as possible biomarkers in different types of TENs. Interestingly, Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors have shown potent antitumor effects in clinical trials, thus possibly representing effective epigenetic therapeutic agents in TENs. Additional studies in larger patient cohorts are, nevertheless, needed to verify the clinical utility and safety of novel epigenetic agents in the treatment of patients with TENs. |
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| Keywords: | thymoma thymic carcinoma TEN epigenetics non-coding RNA DNA methylation HDACI |
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