Combined inhibition of histone deacetylase and cytidine deaminase improves epigenetic potency of decitabine in colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Background: Targeting the epigenome of cancerous diseases represents an innovative approach, and the DNA methylation inhibitor decitabine is recommended for the treatment of hematological malignancies. Although epigenetic alterations are also common to solid tumors, the therapeutic efficacy of decitabine in colorectal adenocarcinomas (COAD) is unfavorable. Current research focuses on an identification of combination therapies either with chemotherapeutics or checkpoint inhibitors in modulating the tumor microenvironment.