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Resistance, epigenetics and the cancer ecosystem

Therapeutic resistance is a key roadblock to effective cancer treatment and can occur through various mechanisms. A recent study characterized a previously unknown, reversible mechanism of drug resistance mediated by an altered chromatin state, suggesting that cancer cell populations can use a dynamic strategy to ensure their survival when challenged by therapeutic intervention.

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Figure 1: Epigenetic modulation of tumor-initiating cells and therapy resistance.

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Correspondence to Stephen B Baylin.

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Baylin, S. Resistance, epigenetics and the cancer ecosystem. Nat Med 17, 288–289 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0311-288

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