The pharmacoepigenetics of drug metabolism and transport in breast cancer: review of the literature and in silico analysis

Abstract

The focus of this manuscript is on DNA methylation and miRNA regulation of drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters involved in the disposition of drugs commonly used in breast cancer. We start with a review of the available scant literature and follow with an in silico analysis of the CpG islands and miRNA binding sites of genes of interest. We make the case that there is room for further research to include more genes and miRNAs despite the extensive sharing of miRNA targets by candidate genes of interest. We also stress on the role of peripheral blood as a source of pharmacoepigenetic biomarkers, and point out the lack of toxicoepigenetic studies in breast cancer.