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Ovarian cancer: epigenetics, drug resistance, and progression

Cancer Cell International volume 21, Article number: 434 (2021) Cite this article

Abstract

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. OC is associated with the activation of oncogenes, the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, and the activation of abnormal cell signaling pathways. Moreover, epigenetic processes have been found to play an important role in OC tumorigenesis. Epigenetic processes do not change DNA sequences but regulate gene expression through DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA. This review comprehensively considers the importance of epigenetics in OC, with a focus on microRNA and long non-coding RNA. These types of RNA are promising molecular markers and therapeutic targets that may support precision medicine in OC. DNA methylation inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors may be useful for such targeting, with a possible novel approach combining these two therapies. Currently, the clinical application of such epigenetic approaches is limited by multiple obstacles, including the heterogeneity of OC, insufficient sample sizes in reported studies, and non-optimized methods for detecting potential tumor markers. Nonetheless, the application of epigenetic approaches to OC patient diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis is a promising area for future clinical investigation.

Background

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the deadliest, most malignant gynecological tumors. Due to its insidious onset, most patients have no specific manifestations or symptoms during the early stages of the disease. The lack of sensitive and efficient clinical screening methodology results in most diagnoses occurring at an advanced stage. Based on the latest statistics from the American Cancer Society, there are approximately 20,000 new cases of OC annually, accounting for 5% of all female malignant tumors, with a death rate of 62% [1]. The incidence of OC is increasing not only in Western countries, but also in Asian countries. Approximately 70% of patients with OC are diagnosed with advanced disease when the tumor has spread outside of the pelvis and to distant metastatic sites, which cannot be completely removed by surgery. The 5-year survival rate is 20–30%. The overall OC survival rate could be improved by the identification of specific biomarkers for early diagnosis. This type of discovery would represent a revolutionary breakthrough in OC research.

At present, the pathogenesis and specific etiology of OC are unclear. OC may be due to a combination of genetics, reproductive hormone levels, and behavior. The number of ovulations in a woman's lifetime is proportional to the risk for OC [2]. Among women who are not pregnant, menarche and late menopause result in increased ovulation and are high-risk factors for OC. Protective factors, such as pregnancy, term delivery, lactation, oral contraceptives, and tubal ligation, reduce the occurrence of OC [2]. Genetic factors contribute to approximately 10% of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) [2] and are usually characterized by the autosomal dominant inheritance of BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutations [3]. The loss of function in genes encoding BRCA proteins results in the instability of tumor suppressors.

OC was initially thought to originate in the ovaries. With molecular biological analysis, the origin of OC has become controversial [4]. Currently, OC is believed to have three possible origins: ovarian surface epithelium (OSE), fallopian tube, or ectopic endometrial tissue [4, 5]. These tissues have the same embryological origin. According to the cell origin and histological features, OC is classified into epithelial, sex-cord stromal, germ cell and mixed-cell subtypes [6]. EOC is the most common cause of mortality in women with gynecologic tumors, accounting for 85–90% of all ovarian malignancies [7]. There are four main histologic subtypes of EOC: serous, clear-cell, mucinous, and endometrioid [8]. Fallopian tube cells may be the precursors of the most high-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOC) [9], and endometriotic cells may be the precursors of clear-cell and endometrioid tumors [10]. Its heterogeneity is believed to be the main reason for treatment failure and tumor drug resistance [11]. Tumors originating from different anatomical sites may be a possible cause of tumor heterogeneity [4].

Although each subtype has its own molecular and clinical characteristics, treatment for all epithelial ovarian subtypes remains similar, including de-bulking surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy. Regardless of the tissue type, platinum-based chemotherapy is the main treatment of choice for advanced EOC, typically carboplatin combined with paclitaxel [12]. For decades, intrinsic or acquired resistance to chemotherapy in most patients has inevitably posed a major barrier to the successful treatment of OC. Epigenetic drugs comprise a new generation of anticancer drugs that have unique interactions with tumor cells and associated microenvironments. These drugs may be used alone or in combination with classic chemotherapy. The key prognostic factor for OC is the resistance of the patient’s tumor to chemotherapy, especially platinum-based drugs. Epigenetic drugs combined with paclitaxel and platinum are more effective than chemotherapy alone [13].

Epigenetics

Without changing the DNA sequence, epigenetic processes influence the expression and function of genes, which may result in heritable phenotypes [14] (Fig. 1). Epigenetics serves as an adjunct to classical genetics, and epigenetic modifications are significantly influenced by changes in the internal and external environment, playing an important regulatory role in the transgenerational inheritance of acquired traits, fate of stem cells, and occurrence of cancer [15]. This article reviews recent evidence on OC, including occurrence and development, chemotherapy resistance, and the influence of epigenetic processes mediated by non-coding RNA (ncRNA), DNA methylation, and histone modification.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Epigenetic processes include DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNA, RNA modification, chromatin remodeling, and genomic imprinting. a DNA methylation is divided into two categories: the hypermethylation of CpG islands and global hypomethylation. b Histone post-translational modifications, including methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, deamination, ubiquitination, ADP‐ribosylation and proline isomerization. c Non-coding RNA including miRNA, lncRNA, rRNA, tRNA, snRNA, snoRNA, sncRNA, siRNA, etc., act in the nucleus or cytoplasm. d Post-transcriptional modification of RNA through RNA editing and RNA methylation. e Chromatin-remodeling complexes are grouped into four major families: SWI/SNF, INO80, ISWI, and CHD. f Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic process that mainly includes maternal imprinting and paternal imprinting

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In the human genome, 95% of the DNA sequence does not encode proteins. The types of ncRNAs include ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), small nuclear RNA (snRNA), small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA), RNA interference (RNAi), small non-coding RNA (sncRNA), and short interfering RNA (siRNA) [16]. The importance of ncRNAs was not widely recognized until recently. Although ncRNAs cannot encode proteins, they have specific biological functions, such as the processing and modification of RNA, stabilization of mRNA, regulation of cell translation levels, transport of proteins, and chromatin structural modification [17].

MiRNA is an endogenous non-coding small molecule RNA with a length of 19–25 base pairs (bp), which is formed from its precursor RNA after cleavage by the Drosha and Dicer enzymes. Mature miRNA hinders translation extension by binding to the 3'UTR of target mRNA or by degrading RNA by promoting the separation of ribosomes and mRNA, thereby inhibiting gene expression [18] (Fig. 2). Nearly half of miRNA genes are located at fragile sites or chromosomal fragments that are amplified or deleted in human cancers, suggesting that miRNA is closely related to cancer [19].

Fig. 2
figure 2

Classic molecular mechanisms of DNA methylation, histone modification, and  miRNA. a Genes are silenced by hypermethylation, which is catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). Genes are expressed when DNA is demethylated, which is catalyzed by DNA methylation inhibitors (DNMTis). b Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) maintain a reversible equilibrium state of histone acetylation. c MiRNAs are formed from precursor RNAs that are cleaved by the Drosha and Dicer enzymes. MiRNAs block gene expression by promoting mRNA degradation and by preventing protein translation

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LncRNA is a subclass of ncRNA sequences with arbitrary lengths composed of more than 200 bp that were once considered "transcriptional noise" in genomic transcription. In recent years, through biotechnology and high-throughput sequencing, the abnormal expression of lncRNAs has been tightly associated with the biological behavior of tumors through epigenetic and post-transcriptional regulation [20] (Fig. 3). Based on their genomic positions relative to protein-coding genes, lncRNAs can be classified into five major categories: sense, antisense, pseudogenes, intergenic, intronic, and bidirectional promoters [21]. The most common epigenetic modifications of lncRNAs in tumors are imprinting loss or methylation changes (hypomethylation and hypermethylation). LncRNAs are involved in the regulation of imprinted gene networks. For example, as a transcriptional regulator, H19 regulates tumor growth by transfecting a gene imprinting network [22]. LncRNAs recruit chromatin epigenetic modification factors and change the looseness and tightness of chromatin to achieve chromatin remodeling, thereby regulating gene expression [23]. LncRNAs can recruit DNA methyltransferases, leading to either methylation or demethylation [24]. In addition, lncRNAs are involved in epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (EMT) [25] and cell stemness [26].

Fig. 3
figure 3

Schematic mechanisms of lncRNA in regulating gene expression. Nuclear lncRNAs modulate gene expression through chromatin modification, transcriptional regulation, RNA splicing and LncRNA–DNA interaction. In the cytoplasm, lncRNAs play a role in miRNA sponge formation, mRNA stability regulation and protein stability control

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Interestingly, lncRNAs interact with miRNAs in multiple ways. For example, lncRNAs act as molecular sponges to bind miRNAs and inhibit their binding to mRNA [27]; as precursors of miRNAs, lncRNAs are cleaved by the Dicer enzyme to form mature miRNAs. LncRNAs bind to target miRNAs to promote their degradation, and competition occurs between the two molecules at the same mRNA site [28].

DNA methylation is the most commonly studied epigenetic modification of malignant tumors (Fig. 2). Expressed genes are generally not methylated. In many forms of cancer, tumor suppressor and DNA repair genes are often hypermethylated and silenced. The abnormal methylation of CpG islands (CpG-rich regions, 500–1000 bp in length with GC content exceeding 55%) can regulate the cell cycle, drug sensitivity, and tumor suppressor gene silencing. The aberrant methylation of DNA changes gene expression, which can promote damage and tumorigenesis [29]. It cannot be ignored that the abnormal methylation of other genomic loci, such as enhancers and repetitive elements, is also the main driving factor for tumor occurrence and development [30]. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that DNA hypomethylation associated with cancer may increase genomic instability [30]. However, promoter DNA methylation does not always act as a transcriptional silencing mechanism. It has been discovered that DNA hypomethylation promotes tumorigenesis through the transcriptional activation of oncogenes [31]. These findings suggest that epigenetics contributes to transcriptional regulation in a more dynamic and complex manner than previously believed.

After histone translation is complete, the amino terminus is covalently modified to regulate the expression of the corresponding gene. Changes in chromatin structure caused by covalent modification are known as ubiquitination, glycosylation, deamination, ADP ribosylation, and proline isomerization [32]. Acetylation and methylation are the two most important modifications that function by upregulating or downregulating gene expression, respectively [33]. Histone modification plays an important role in gene transcription, DNA damage repair, DNA replication, and chromosome condensation [34]. Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) maintain a reversible and dynamic equilibrium of histone acetylation (Fig. 2). Histone methylation occurs on lysine or arginine residues of histones H3 and H4. The methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) is related to the silencing of many genes, such as genes imprinted and inactivated on the X chromosome [35].

In addition, a series of epigenetic modifications have recently been discovered, such as acetylation modifications of RNA, glycation modifications and lactate modifications of histones, whose functions need further exploration. The polycombgroup of proteins (PcG) remodels chromatin and epigenetically silences genes [36].

Application of epigenetics in OC

NcRNA in OC

MiRNA

MiRNAs regulate the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in OC through a complex circulatory network that controls tumor proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, and immune escape [37]. Along with miRNA molecules involved in the pathogenesis of malignant tumors, essential components of miRNA processing (Dicer, Drosha, DGCR8, Argonaut, and TRBP) are also involved [38].

MiRNAs as biomarkers

After the miRNA expression profiles of 894 EOC samples were analyzed (the largest collection to date available), 35 miRNAs predicting the risk of progression or relapse were identified. Among them, 16 were associated with a better prognosis, and 19 with a worse prognosis [39]. Due to the enormous number of such reports, this article lists some examples (Table 1). MiRNA is abnormally expressed in different tissue types of OC and can also be detected in body fluids such as blood, ascites, and urine [40]. Due to effective detection in body fluids, high stability, and tissue-specific expression patterns, miRNAs have potential as novel biomarkers. MiR-34 induces the autophagy and apoptosis of tumor cells, regulates tumor proliferation, and targets notch-1, thereby inhibiting cell invasion in OC [41]. Serum miR-375 and miR-1307 are upregulated in OC and may be used to support diagnosis in combination with CA-125 [42]. The overexpression of miR-9 may promote the cell migration and invasion of OC by targeting E-cadherin and become a new potential marker to control the metastasis of OC [43].

Table 1 Expression of miRNA in OC
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While some miRNAs have been suggested to be involved in the proliferation and invasion of OC, others may play opposing roles. MiRNA-219-5p inhibits the invasion, proliferation, and migration of EOC by targeting the Twist/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting its potential role in the diagnosis and treatment of EOC [44]. By targeting multiple oncogenic genes, the classic Let-7 family of miRNAs has a tumor suppressor function. Its expression is downregulated in many cancer cells [45]. Let-7g overexpression induces a significant reduction in OC cancer cell growth. This effect leads to partial arrest of the G0/G1 cell cycle and significant downregulation of c-Myc and cyclin-D2 in OVCAR3 and HEY-A8 cells [46]. The architectural transcription factors HMGA2 and LIN28B and the RNA-binding protein IGF2BP1 form a self-promoting oncogenic "triangle" that adequately antagonizes the tumor inhibitory effects of the let-7 miRNA family [47]. The let-7 antagonistic triangle may be active in a wide range of cancers along with in OC. Impairing the potential of this triangle by targeting let-7 could be a new direction for the diagnosis of early OC. These findings clearly indicate that aberrant expression of miRNAs may serve as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of OC.

MiRNAs as therapeutic targets

The differential expression of miRNAs is a double-edged sword in OC. Platinum and paclitaxel are two types of drugs that have been studied in detail to explore the effects of miRNAs on the sensitivity and resistance to chemotherapy in OC. The upregulation or downregulation of specific miRNAs has the potential to modulate the responsiveness of OC cells to chemotherapy (Table 2). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has been recognized as a reliable treatment strategy for patients with advanced EOC. The molecular mechanisms leading to platinum reaction in NACT settings have not been explored. Longitudinal analysis of miRNA expression profiles in HGSOC patients treated with NACT reveals that the expression levels of miR let-7G-5p, miR-199a-3p, miR-199a-5p, and miR181a-5p are independently associated with OS and PFS [48]. Moreover, the above-mentioned four miRNAs are correlated with Pt-based resistance and prognosis. Concomitant expression of P-Smad2 and miR181a-5p in surgical samples may be capable of confirming a poor outcome and little chance of response to Pt-based NACT.

Table 2 Application of miRNA to OC drug resistance
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MiR-708 increases the sensitivity of cisplatin-resistant cells through the IGF2BP1/Akt pathway [49]. MiR-34a downregulates HDAC1 expression while inhibiting proliferation and reducing resistance to cisplatin in OC cells [50]. MiR-136 re-sensitizes OC cells to paclitaxel by targeting the Notch-3 oncogene [51]. The expression of miR-383-5p is downregulated in OC, while the expression of TRIM 27 is upregulated [52]. MiR-383-5p inhibits cell proliferation and enhances paclitaxel chemosensitivity by suppressing TRIM27 expression. Interestingly, oncogenic miR-1246 has been found in OC, and its inhibitor has a significant sensitization effect on paclitaxel [53]. A new mechanism by which miR-503-5p induces metastasis in chemoresistant OC cells has recently been discovered [54]. MiR-503-5p inhibits the colony formation and metastasis of paclitaxel-resistant OC cells by inhibiting the CD97-mediated JAK2/STAT3 pathway. MiR-141/KLF12/Sp1/survivin, as a new signaling axis, can enhance the drug resistance of OC and may be a potential target for the treatment of metastatic OC [55]. In addition, miR-200c has been proposed as a potential circulating biomarker in OC to predict the outcome of bevacizumab combined with standard chemotherapy over standard chemotherapy alone [56].

As a tumor suppressor, let-7g may be used to inhibit tumor progression and resistance to cisplatin chemotherapy in EOC [46]. Snai1 is a major regulator of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Interestingly, the expression of the tumor suppressor gene let-7 was upregulated in snail knockout cells. These findings suggest that the Snail/Let-7 axis may be an appealing target for HGSOC therapy [57]. Unlike traditional tumor suppressors, miR-98-5p, as a member of the let-7 family, shows the greatest inhibitory effect on Dicer1 and is significantly upregulated in cisplatin-resistant EOC cell lines [58]. MiR-98-5p promotes chemo-resistance to cisplatin through a novel miR-98-5p/DICER1/miR-152 pathway. These results may provide new predictive and prognostic ideas for OC and aid in the design of new miRNA-based therapeutic strategies.

MiRNA detection methods are continually improved. Ongoing research aims to establish a drug delivery system that reduces their local accumulation, systemic toxicity, and side effects. The use of porous anti-miRNA nanoparticles for OC therapy is a new form of targeted therapy [59]. However, it is not clear how each miRNA can be applied to overcome drug resistance. In conclusion, the discovery of miRNAs and their application in the pathophysiology of OC create unlimited possibilities for the transformation of miRNA scientific research into clinical applications.

LncRNA

Unlike miRNAs and other non-coding transcripts, lncRNAs are complex and large, and their ability to regulate genes in almost all transition states indicates their potential [60] (Table 3). Abnormal expression levels of these lncRNAs can be detected in body fluids and tumor tissues. In EOC, hundreds of lncRNAs are differentially expressed compared with benign and normal control tissues [61]. LncRNAs exhibit a significant association with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) clinical outcomes, both individually and as part of molecular signatures [62, 63]. By exploring and analyzing The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, a 10-lncRNA prognostic signature can be used to assess the clinical outcomes of patients with HGSOC. Patients are classified into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups, with a significantly shortened OS and DFS in the high-risk group [63]. LncRNAs play roles in the pathogenesis and drug resistance to therapy in OC through various mechanisms, including aberrant lncRNA expression and single-nucleotide polymorphisms of functional lncRNAs. Recently, antisense and intergenic lncRNAs have been shown to regulate cell behavior in a variety of cancer types [64]. The expression of lncRNAs has been used to identify non-coding transcriptional markers associated with the prognosis of stage I EOC [65]. A signature composed of six different lncRNAs (RUNX1-IT1, MALAT1, H19, HOTAIRM1, LOC100190986, and AL132709.8) is significantly correlated with recurrence in OC [66]. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) identified five reliable lncRNAs (LINC00664, LINC00667, LINC01139, LINC01419 and LOC286437) that are involved in multiple mechanisms of OC. The five lncRNAs are independent risk factors for OC recurrence [67].

Table 3 Molecular function of lncRNA in OC
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HOTAIR

HOX antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) was significantly increased in 44 OC tissues compared with 14 normal ovary tissues [68]. HOTAIR levels were positively correlated with the FIGO stage, histological grade of the tumor, lymph node metastasis and reduced OS and DFS [69]. In OC, HOTAIR is upregulated and positively correlated with the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) levels [70]. The NF-κB–HOTAIR axis drives a positive-feedback loop cascade in the DNA damage response and contributes to cell senescence and chemotherapy resistance in OC. The knockdown of HOTAIR can increase OC sensitivity to cisplatin by inhibiting cisplatin-induced autophagy [71]. The metastasis-promoting effect of HOTAIR is mediated by the regulation of the expression of many genes involved in EMT and cell metastasis, including matrix metalloproteinase 3(MMP3), MMP9, E-cadherin, vimentin and snail [69].

MALAT1

In the microarray analysis of lncRNAs, metastatic specific lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) was found to be significantly increased in OC tissues and cell lines [72, 73]. MALAT1 upregulation promotes the proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis of OC cells in vivo [74, 75]. Survival analysis reveals that patients with increased MALAT1 expression have a poorer DFS time [73]. MALAT1 knockdown significantly reduced cisplatin resistance in OC by inhibiting the Notch1 signaling pathway [76]. MALAT1 also promotes metastasis and proliferation through the PI3K/AKT pathway in EOC [77]. Both HOTAIR and MALAT1 have been identified as potential therapeutic targets for restoring platinum sensitivity.

H19

The H19 gene is the first identified imprinted lncRNA with maternal expression. Together with a neighboring gene, insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), H19 plays a key role in early pregnancy and normal menstrual cycles [78]. Recent studies have found that IGF2/H19 variants are significantly associated with genetic susceptibility to EOC in Han Chinese women [79]. As mentioned above, H19 is associated with OS and DFS in OC [66]. Interestingly, these events can be modulated by inhibiting let-7 and subsequently enhancing the expression of the target genes HMGA2, c-Myc, and IGF2BP, which promote metastasis [80].

Other lncRNAs

High expression of nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) has been observed in both OC cell lines and tumors. NEAT1 promotes drug resistance to paclitaxel by upregulating ZEB1 expression by sponging miR-194 [81]. Compared with non-cancer tissues, the expression of ANRIL is significantly increased in EOC tissues, and increased ANRIL levels are associated with advanced FIGO stage, high histological grade, and poor OS [82]. Mechanistic investigations in vitro confirmed that silencing ANRIL promoted apoptosis and enhance the cisplatin sensitivity of OC cells by upregulating let-7a expression [83]. Furthermore, the upregulation of the lncRNAs long stress-induced non-coding transcript 5 (LSINCT5), colon cancer-associated transcript 2 (CCAT2), competing endogenous lncRNA 2 (CERNA2), PVT1, and urothelial cancer-associated 1 (UCA1) have also been implicated in cancer-promoting mechanisms of OC [84].

In contrast, some lncRNAs are downregulated in OC. Reduced expression of brain cytoplasmic RNA 200 (BC200) and growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) has been observed in OC cells and tissues. GAS5 promotes OC tumorigenesis through its downstream effects on genes related to cell cycle progression, namely, P21, cyclin D1 and APAF1 [85]. LncRNA MEG3 is down expressed in OC. MEG3 upregulation can reduce the cisplatin resistance of OC cells by reducing EVS-mediated miR-214 [86]. In OC cells, lncRNA GAS5 inhibits the cell cycle and promotes apoptosis by reducing cyclin D1, p21 and APAF1 levels [85]. However, to date, few lncRNAs have been identified that could play key roles in the treatment of OC.

LncRNA–miRNA interactions

As mentioned above, lncRNAs mainly act as sponges that bind miRNAs and inhibit their functions. As a tumor suppressor gene, miR-129 has been reported to inhibit the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer and breast cancer [87, 88]. LncRNA SNHG12 is overexpressed in OC, and its expression level shows a positive association with tumor size and FIGO stage. As a molecular sponge of miR-129, SNHG12 can directly bind to miR-129 and inhibit the function of miR-129, resulting in carcinogenesis [89]. MALAT1 also acts as a sponge for miR-200c and inhibits tumor growth through miR-506-dependent iASPP [90, 91]. LncRNA LINC01133 is downregulated in OC and acts as a negative regulator for miR-205, upregulating leucin-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) to inhibit OC development [92]. The lentivirus transfection of XIST into CAOV3 and OVCAR3 cell lines confirms that XIST can also directly act as a miRNA sponge to bind miR-214-3p and inhibit its expression, thereby inhibiting EOC development and increasing cisplatin chemosensitivity [93].

Furthermore, lncRNAs have a synergistic effect on miRNAs. MEG3 mentioned above plays a role in targeting miR-214. HOTAIR promotes the proliferation and migration of OC cells via the miR-373 regulatory network [94]. NEAT1 promotes the infiltration and metastasis of OC cells by regulating the miR-382-3p/ROCK 1 axis [95]. LncRNA-TUSC7 is repressed in patients with OC, and reduced TUSC7 promotes invasion, proliferation and migration of OC cells through the miR-616-5p/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway [96]. These studies continue to improve the understanding of ncRNAs in OC. However, the extent to which these interactions are functionally relevant in cells is still a matter of debate.

DNA methylation and histone modification

The aberrant methylation of some oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes has been extensively investigated. The aberrant methylation of CpG islands in ovarian tumors is related to the regulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis, drug sensitivity, and the silencing of tumor suppressor genes. Demethylating agents can activate RNA transcription of silent endogenous retroviruses, stimulate antiviral interferon (IFN) signal transduction, and activate antitumor immune responses [97]. Thus, the regulation of gene expression by DNA methylation may play an important role in the gene competition between viruses and hosts.

The classic tumor suppressor gene, BRCA1, was discovered in 1994 on chromosome 17q12-21. The hypermethylation of BRCA1 causes its expression to be decreased or deleted, inducing abnormal cell proliferation and affecting cell differentiation. The abnormal methylation of the dominant 5'UTR promoter leads to BRCA1 gene silencing, which is one of the causes of OC [98]. The abnormal methylation of BRCA1 occurs in up to 15% in EOC [99], which is related to the initiation of OC and can therefore be used for targeted therapy. Poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) are the first targeted drugs for OC [100]. PARPis prevent cells from repairing single-strand DNA damage, improve the 5-year survival of OC patients with BRCA1 mutations, and increase the sensitivity to platinum drugs due to the disruption of DNA repair. The benefits of PARPis are not limited to BRCA mutation carriers but also extend to wild-type BRCA carriers [101]. In patients with advanced OC who received first-line standard treatment that included bevacizumab and maintenance olaparib (a PARPi), a significant progression-free survival benefit was observed [102]. Therefore, the abnormal methylation of BRCA1 is closely related to the initiation of OC, targeted therapy, and prognosis.

Through DNA damage and cell cycle imbalance, the disruption of the histone methyltransferases EHMT1/2 (GLP/G9A) induces HGSOC cancer cell sensitivity to PARPis [103]. Ep-100 is a lytic peptide that specifically targets gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors on cancer cells. Its combination with olaparib significantly increases the phosphorylation of histone H2AX in OC cells, exacerbating DNA damage [104]. Thus, the combination of ep-100 and olaparib is a promising treatment strategy. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a targeted drug used to treat hematological malignancies, can inhibit cell proliferation in telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)-hypomethylated OC tissue types, and ATRA may be a new and effective individualized therapy [105]. Ubiquitin-specific protease 1 (USP1) stabilizes SNAIL by deubiquitination, thus promoting platinum resistance and OC cancer cell proliferation. The inhibition of USP1, in combination with platinum compounds, could be a successful strategy to improve platinum efficacy [106]. These studies demonstrate that there are other possible mechanisms in epigenetics that still need to be explored.

The antitumor efficacy of bromodomain and extra-terminal motif protein inhibitors (BETis) has been demonstrated in numerous types of cancers. It has been estimated that members of the Switch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex (including SMARCA4, ARID1A and PBRM1 subunits) are mutated in approximately 20% of all tumor types [107]. Aggressive OCs lacking SMARCA4 and SMARCA2 may be highly sensitive to BETis [108]. BETis show the highest level of antitumor activity when both SMARCA4 and SMARCA2 are mutated or lost. ARID1A is mutated in more than 50% of ovarian clear-cell carcinomas [109]. BRD2, a member of the BET family, specifically inhibits the proliferation of ARID1A-mutated cell lines [110]. There is an unexpected and lethal interaction between BRD2 deletion and ARID1A mutation. BETis lead to a reduction in the expression of multiple SWI/SNF members and may be a novel method for the treatment of ARID1A-mutated ovarian clear-cell carcinomas. Furthermore, BETis may enhance DNA damage induced by PARPis through homologous recombination [111].

To date, antitumor epigenetic drugs that have been marketed mainly consist of four categories. Two of the most classic epigenetic therapies investigated are DNMTis and HDACis [112] (Table 4). Histone demethylase inhibitors and histone methyltransferase EZH2 inhibitors are other antitumor drugs that have received much attention in the field of epigenetics. EZH2, a member of Polycomb Repressor Complex 2 (PRC2), is commonly involved in transcriptional repression and overexpressed in OC. Although many ongoing clinical trials are currently using EZH2 inhibitors, no one is studying the use of EZH2 inhibitors in OC patients [113].

Table 4 Application of DNMTi and HDACi to OC treatment
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DNMTis have been used for cancer immunotherapy, and representative nucleic acid analogs such as decitabine (DAC) and azacitidine (AZA). DNMTis have been approved for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and have been widely used in immunotherapeutic clinical trials of multiple cancers [114]. In OC cell lines, DNMTi treatment upregulates the expression of the antigen-processing and presentation molecules B2M, CALR, CD58, PSMB8, and PSMB9, demonstrating a possible mechanism for sensitizing ovarian tumors to immunotherapy [115]. By reducing the mRNA and protein levels of DNA methylase, ginsenoside Rg3 can promote the antitumor effects of p53, p16, and hMLH-1 in OC cells, inhibiting the migration and invasion of cancer cells, and promoting cell apoptosis [116]. In HGSOC, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) loss is an epigenetic hallmark that is associated with a poor overall survival rate, shorter time to relapse, and a reduced response to platinum-based chemotherapy [117]. DNMTi pretreatment restores 5-HMC loss and sensitivity to platinum chemotherapy. Recently, the DNMTi guadecitabine in combination with the PARPi talazoparib has been shown to increase the sensitivity of OC cells to PARPis, independent of the BRCA status [118]. The development of resistance and severe side effects are current therapeutic challenges for DNMTis that need to be overcome, and the hypermethylation of CpGs may be a novel mechanism of action for DNMTis. This finding provides a new idea for predicting the therapeutic efficacy and side effects of DNMTis [119].

HDACis are another promising new class of anticancer drugs that can induce cancer cell cycle arrest, differentiation, and cell death; reduce angiogenesis; and regulate the immune response [120]. Among the currently available  HDACis, four have been tested in OC, including vorinostat, romidepsin, valproate, and PXD101. PAX8 is an EOC proto-oncogene. HDACis interfere with the transcription of PAX8 and downstream factors by blocking the acetylation of histone H3K27 [121]. IKK inhibitors can improve the efficacy of HDACis in OC and that of other solid tumors by inhibiting IL-8 [122]. DHRS2 expression is decreased in OC, and high DHRS2 expression is correlated with a better prognosis. HDACis increase the mRNA and protein levels of DHRS2, suggesting that HDACis improve the prognosis of OC patients by upregulating the expression of DHRS2 [123]. As a single drug, HDACis effectively inhibit the growth and spread of ovarian tumors and synergize with platinum-based chemotherapy drugs, which shows a real potential for clinical success [124]. The efficacy of HDACis in the treatment of solid tumors remains uncertain. A hybrid HDAC inhibitor, the hybrid molecule Roxyl-ZHC-84, has been developed. It greatly improves the limitations of traditional HDAC inhibitors in solid tumors by overcoming JAK1-STAT3-BCL2-mediated drug resistance and provides new ideas for the further research and development of antitumor drugs [125].

DNMTi and HDACi can increase the antitumor immunogenicity of cancer cells with beneficial effects on the immune microenvironment of ovarian tumors [126]. The combination of DNMTis and HDACis for the treatment of elderly patients with AML has been approved [127]. Dual inhibition may be a novel epigenetic therapy combination that can be used as a novel strategy for the treatment of OC.

Conclusions

Epigenetics is likely involved in the origin and progression of OC and will likely be an important treatment adjunct for OC. Epigenetics will likely provide an important tool for early molecular cancer screening and predictive markers for the selection of drug treatment protocols for high-risk patients. To date, most studies are in an early stage, and more intensive investigation is required. There is a limited understanding of OC disease progression; hence, the useful clinical application of epigenetics requires further investigation.

OC has an insidious onset, with multiple histological subtypes and complex molecular expression patterns. There are limitations to existing investigations in that reported study sample sizes are small, and the association of miRNA with disease occurrence lacks a causal relationship, with no identified specific OC biomarkers that can provide a direction for the analysis of miRNA. Furthermore, the lack of standardized protocols for sample collection and RNA extraction, as well as the less than ideal selection of individual patient differences, makes it difficult to compare reported results. LncRNAs are involved in the origin, invasion, and metastasis of OC. LncRNA function is multifaceted, with an array of complex cellular and molecular activities. Some lncRNAs show almost ubiquitous effects in OC, and it will be interesting to consider whether most of them have specific functions and may influence the extent to which lncRNAs play a role in cancer. Abnormal DNA methylation and histone modification directly affect tumor progression and drug tolerance. DNA methylation is often used to compare the methylation status of specific genes in normal and OC cells. However, analysis of the genome-wide DNA methylation status is limited in that there is wide variability in sample size, tissue type, and analysis methodology. The analysis of histone-modified proteins remains in an early stage, and clinical trials of inhibitors are underway.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying chemotherapeutic resistance is critical to treatment decisions and to the discovery of new anticancer drug targets. DNMTis and HDACis, or even a combination of the two, show great potential for the targeted treatment of OC. Currently, DNMTis are being evaluated in both preclinical and clinical settings, although cytotoxic side effects currently limit the clinical application of demethylating drugs. With the development of large-scale genome projects and sequencing technologies, such as the Encyclopaedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) [128] and TCGA Project [129], our understanding of the mechanistic basis for treatment responses will become more important. Understanding the tumor tissue type, the gene sequence of an individual tumor, and the immune tumor microenvironment will allow the use of epigenetic drugs, immune regulators, targeted therapies, or a combination of these therapies to improve the clinical management of OC.

In the future, more research is needed to validate the biological mechanisms and clinical implications of tumor characterization at the molecular level, putting them into clinical practice. In addition, non-invasive approaches, such as diagnostic biomarkers in the blood or urine, are superior to invasive biopsy procedures. Immunotoxicity and other reactions will be important considerations when using epigenetic-based therapeutics. Thus, epigenetic studies have already added an additional layer of complexity to the understanding of OC, although the mechanistic understanding of biological functions is only beginning to develop. The lack of appropriate detection systems and therapeutic targets for OC are still major challenges. The development of epigenetics has opened a new horizon to discover specific biomarkers and therapeutics that could ultimately change the future of OC diagnosis and treatment.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable.

Abbreviations

OC:

Ovarian cancer

EOC:

Epithelial ovarian cancer

OSE:

Ovarian surface epithelium

HGSOC:

High-grade serous ovarian cancer

ncRNA:

Non-coding RNA

miRNA:

MicroRNA

lncRNA:

Long non-coding RNA

DNMTi:

DNA methylation inhibitor

HDACi:

Histone deacetylase inhibitor

snRNA:

Small nuclear RNA

snoRNA:

Small nucleolar RNA

RNAi:

RNA interference

sncRNA:

Small non-coding RNA

siRNA:

Short interfering RNA

bp:

Base pairs

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor kappa B

DNMTs:

DNA methyltransferases

CpG:

Cytosine-phosphate-guanine

HAT:

Histone acetyltransferase

HDAC:

Histone deacetylase

EMT:

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition

LRRK2:

Leucin-rich repeat kinase 2

DFS:

Disease-free survival

OS:

Overall survival

TCGA:

The Cancer Genome Atlas

GO:

Gene Ontology

GSEA:

Gene Set Enrichment Analysis

HOTAIR:

HOX antisense intergenic RNA

MALAT1:

Metastatic specific lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1

MMP3:

Matrix metalloproteinase 3

IGF2:

Insulin-like growth factor 2

NEAT1:

Nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1

LSINCT5:

Long stress-induced non-coding transcript 5

CCAT2:

Colon cancer-associated transcript 2

CERNA2:

Competing endogenous lncRNA 2

UCA1:

Urothelial cancer-associated 1

BC200:

Brain cytoplasmic RNA 200

GAS5:

Growth arrest-specific 5

IFN:

Interferon

PARPi:

PARP inhibitor

DAC:

Decitabine

AZA:

Azacitidine

AML:

Acute myeloid leukemia

CMML:

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

MDS:

Myelodysplastic syndrome

5-AZA-CdR:

5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine

ERV:

Endogenous retrovirus

5AZA-C:

5-Azacytidine

DFMO:

Difluoromethylornithine

HR:

Homologous recombination

SAHA:

Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid

H3K27me3:

Histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation

ATRA:

All-trans retinoic acid

TERT:

Telomerase reverse transcriptase

USP1:

Ubiquitin-specific protease 1

ENCODE:

Encyclopaedia of DNA Elements

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Numbers 81930064, 81874103 and 81872117).

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  1. Weiwei Xie and Huizhen Sun contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Xinhua Hospital, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China

    Weiwei Xie, Huizhen Sun, Feikai Lin, Ziliang Wang & Xipeng Wang

  2. Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

    Xiaoduan Li

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  1. Weiwei Xie
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WX: conceptualization, writing—original draft, methodology, software. HS: resources, formal analysis. FL: validation, data curation. XL and ZW: writing—review and editing. XW: supervision, project administration, funding acquisition. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Xie, W., Sun, H., Li, X. et al. Ovarian cancer: epigenetics, drug resistance, and progression. Cancer Cell Int 21, 434 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-021-02136-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-021-02136-y

Keywords

  • Epigenetics
  • Ovarian cancer
  • MiRNA
  • LncRNA
  • DNA methylation
  • Histone modifications

Cancer Cell International

ISSN: 1475-2867

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