cells Review Methylation-Based Therapies for Colorectal Cancer Klara Cervena 1,2 , Anna Siskova 1,2, Tomas Buchler 3, Pavel Vodicka 1,2,4 and Veronika Vymetalkova 1,2,4,* 1 Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Videnska 1083, 14 200 Prague, Czech Republic;
[email protected] (K.C.);
[email protected] (A.S.);
[email protected] (P.V.) 2 Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Albertov 4, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic 3 Department of Oncology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Thomayer Hospital, Videnska 800, 140 59 Prague, Czech Republic;
[email protected] 4 Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +420-241-062-699 Received: 1 June 2020; Accepted: 23 June 2020; Published: 24 June 2020 Abstract: Colorectal carcinogenesis (CRC) is caused by the gradual long-term accumulation of both genetic and epigenetic changes. Recently, epigenetic alterations have been included in the classification of the CRC molecular subtype, and this points out their prognostic impact. As epigenetic modifications are reversible, they may represent relevant therapeutic targets. DNA methylation, catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), regulates gene expression. For many years, the deregulation of DNA methylation has been considered to play a substantial part in CRC etiology and evolution. Despite considerable advances in CRC treatment, patient therapy response persists as limited, and their profit from systemic therapies are often hampered by the introduction of chemoresistance.