Fig. 4
From: Targeting epigenetic regulators as a promising avenue to overcome cancer therapy resistance
Mechanisms of epigenetics impacting on radiotherapy resistance. It delineates the mechanisms by which epigenetic factors contribute to radiotherapy resistance, primarily through the modulation of DNA damage repair processes and tumor-related phenotypes. DNA damage repair pathways play a role in radiotherapy resistance. Among them the DNA double-strand break repair pathways, specifically homologous recombination repair and nonhomologous end joining, are crucial in conferring radioresistance. Furthermore, the activation of these DNA damage repair pathways enhances resistance to radiotherapy. Besides, tumor-associated phenotypes, including cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, autophagy, EMT, and cell proliferation, may serve as potential targets for enhancing radiosensitivity through epigenetic modifications. HR homologous recombination repair, NHEJ nonhomologous end joining, BER base excision repair, MMR mismatch repair, EMT epithelial-mesenchymal transition
