Targeting Epigenetic Readers in Cancer

Abstract

To the Editor: Dawson et al. (Aug. 16 issue)1 argue that epigenetic deregulation is the new central theme in cancer biology and therapy. Recent research shows that this is also true in another specific field. In the transition from basic science to new human stem-cell therapies, epigenetic regulators, which control the balance between pluripotency and tumorigenicity, very likely have the potential to tip the scale. The best stem cells for safe transplantation are those that are not tumorigenic although they harbor the capacity to differentiate into curative cell types. Loose and stringent criteria exist for the usage of the term . . .