Objective To review the relationship between histone modifications and gastrointestinal cancer. Methods Literatures on histone modifications and the relationship between histone modifications and gastrointestinal cancer were collected and reviewed. Results Histone modifications played an important role in the establishment of gene silencing during tumorgenesis. DNA methylation and histone modifications might interact with each other and form a complex network to establish and maintain gene silencing. Restoring gene function silenced by epigenetic changes in cancer had the potential of ‘normalizing’ cancer cells, which was named epigenetic therapy. Epigenetic therapy was very promising in prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer, but many unsolved issues remain which need to be addressed in future studies. Conclusion Histone modifications are associated with the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal cancer. Restoring gene function silenced by epigenetic changes may have a great role in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.
Retinoblastoma (RB) is a common intraocular tumor in children, often leading to blindness or disability, and its pathogenesis involves genetic and epigenetic regulation. Epigenetics regulates gene expression through mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modification without altering the DNA sequence, and the imbalance of its homeostasis is considered a crucial factor in the development and progression of RB. Therapeutic strategies targeting these abnormal modifications offer new potential treatment avenues for RB. Although current research has highlighted the importance of epigenetics in RB, the specific mechanisms of action, the relationship with genetic bases, and the development of targeted drugs remain largely unknown. Therefore, further in-depth research into the epigenetic mechanisms of RB is of great significance for elucidating its carcinogenic mechanisms, identifying effective therapeutic targets, and developing new drugs.
