Liu HR. Harnessing traditional medicine and biomarker-driven approaches to counteract Trichostatin A-induced esophageal cancer progression. World J Gastroenterol 2025; 31(20): 106443 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i20.106443]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Heng-Rui Liu, PhD, Cancer Research Institute, Jinan University, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 518000, Guangdong Province, China. lh@yinuobiomedical.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Genetics & Heredity
Article-Type of This Article
Letter to the Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastroenterol. May 28, 2025; 31(20): 106443 Published online May 28, 2025. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i20.106443
Harnessing traditional medicine and biomarker-driven approaches to counteract Trichostatin A-induced esophageal cancer progression
Heng-Rui Liu
Heng-Rui Liu, Cancer Research Institute, Jinan University, Guangzhou 518000, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Liu HR finished the paper.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Heng-Rui Liu, PhD, Cancer Research Institute, Jinan University, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 518000, Guangdong Province, China. lh@yinuobiomedical.cn
Received: February 26, 2025 Revised: March 14, 2025 Accepted: April 11, 2025 Published online: May 28, 2025 Processing time: 91 Days and 8.6 Hours
Abstract
The recent study by Chen et al highlights the paradoxical role of the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) Trichostatin A (TSA) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), revealing its promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor migration via the BRD4/c-Myc/endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress pathway. While HDACis are traditionally considered anti-tumor agents, these findings underscore the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. In this commentary, we discuss the potential of traditional medicine-derived compounds, such as berberine, curcumin, and resveratrol, in modulating epigenetic regulators and mitigating TSA-induced oncogenic pathways. Additionally, we emphasize the prognostic significance of histone acetylation markers, particularly acetylated histone H3, which could serve as predictive biomarkers for ESCC progression and HDACi therapy responsiveness. Further, we explore the role of ER stress in tumor aggressiveness and suggest that compounds like quercetin and baicalein, known for their ER stress-alleviating properties, warrant further investigation. Integrating traditional medicine-based interventions with biomarker-driven targeted therapy may enhance ESCC treatment efficacy while minimizing HDACi-associated risks. We advocate for future research focusing on the interplay between epigenetic modulation, natural compounds, and biomarker identification to refine personalized therapeutic strategies for ESCC.
Core Tip: Trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), paradoxically promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progression via the BRD4/c-Myc/endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. Traditional medicine-derived compounds like berberine, curcumin, and resveratrol may counteract these oncogenic effects by modulating epigenetic regulators. Additionally, histone acetylation markers, particularly acetylated histone H3, hold promise as predictive biomarkers for ESCC progression and HDACi therapy response. Integrating biomarker-driven approaches with natural compounds may enhance ESCC treatment efficacy while mitigating HDACi-associated risks.
