Epigenetic Dietary Interventions for Prevention of Cancer

Abstract Epigenetic regulation is a dynamic and reversible process that plays an important role in the normal development and control of gene expression in vertebrates. However, imbalances in epigenetic regulation contribute to the development of human diseases, such as fragile X syndrome, immunodeficiency, centromeric region instability, facial anomalies syndrome, Rett syndrome, α-thalassemia, and various cancers. Epigenetics encompasses several chromatin modulations at the molecular level that involve hierarchical covalent modifications of histone tails (including acetylation, phosphorylation, methylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, and ubiquitylation), DNA methylation (methylation of cytosine within CpG dinucleotide), and involvement of noncoding RNA functions. Hence, it may provide a major governing factor in tumor progression and cancer drug sensitivity. Since epigenetic marks, in contrast to genetic mutations, are reversible in nature, chemopreventive bioactive molecules are currently being evaluated as attractive drugs for cancer prevention. In view of this and to gain a better understanding and to design chemopreventive and therapeutic drugs from bioactive components (from food and spice products without any or less side effects), we have summarized the advances of applications of those drugs against cancer—notably, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, epigallocatechin gallate, suberoylanilide, hydroxamic acid, trichostatin A, and others may be used as lead compounds for comparison of basic mechanisms of action while evaluating chemopreventive drugs without cytotoxicity from dietary sources.