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Meeting Report

Clinical translation of epigenetics in cancer: eN-CORe—a report on the second workshop

¹ Section of Hemato-Oncology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom; ² M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; ³ Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York; and ⁴ Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland

Requests for reprints: Steven D. Gore, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, 1650 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21231. Phone: 410-955-8781; Fax: 410-614-1005. E-mail: steven.gore{at}jhu.edu

Abstract

Recent advances in understanding the role that epigenetics plays in cancer pathogenesis and understanding the mechanisms through which these processes regulate gene expression have stimulated considerable interest in developing clinically viable antineoplastic agents that target enzymatic components of transcriptional regulatory complexes responsible for the establishment of pathologic epigenetic modifications that lead to deregulated gene expression in cancer. In January 2003, a workshop was held in Baltimore to discuss the therapeutic potential of several agents that can modify chromatin structure. A follow-up meeting on "Clinical Translation of Epigenetics in Cancer" was held in Charleston, SC, in January 2005. The aim of this workshop was to assess the progress that has been made over the past 2 years in bringing effective therapeutic protocols that use agents capable of reverting pathologic epigenetic changes into the clinic. The meeting was attended by 70 investigators and included formal presentations, panel group discussions, and two breakout sessions that addressed targeted therapies in hematologic and solid tumors. The aim of this article is to summarize topics discussed at this workshop and highlight conclusions as to the immediate and long-term future of epigenetic therapy in cancer.

Grant support: Pharmion, MGI Pharma, Celgene, Gloucester Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Novartis, Schering AG, and Waxman Foundation.

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Note: Report on "Clinical Translation of Epigenetics in Cancer," Charleston, SC, January 2005.

K. Petrie is currently at Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas, E-28029 Madrid, Spain.

⁵ Contributors whose data or presentation are included in this document are referenced by surname in the text and listed alphabetically in Appendix 1.

Received 7/ 6/05; revised 9/ 2/05; accepted 9/14/05.