Research progress on the anti-tumor effect of traditional Chinese medicine based on epigenetic mechanisms

Corresponding author: XUSHUCAI, 2319125047@qq.com

DOI: 10.12201/bmr.202603.00092

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  Abstract: Tumors are one of the leading causes of human mortality worldwide, with limited clinical treatment options, a high propensity for drug resistance, and generally low cure rates. Epigenetic regulation, as a core mechanism in tumorigenesis, is characterized by imbalances in DNA methylation, disruptions in histone modifications, and dysregulation of non-coding RNAs. Its reversibility offers novel targets for cancer therapy. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has garnered significant attention for its ability to modulate epigenetic mechanisms and inhibit tumors through its multi-component, multi-target characteristics. For example, active components of TCM, such as curcumin, can directly target key enzymes like DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), thereby restoring the expression of tumor suppressor genes. This article systematically reviews the multi-dimensional mechanisms by which TCM regulates epigenetics to suppress tumors (including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs), summarizes the progress in clinical translation, and addresses challenges such as insufficient mechanistic depth and weak quality control. The aim is to provide theoretical support and new strategies for integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in cancer treatment.

  Key words: Traditional Chinese medicine; Epigenetics; Tumors; DNA methylation; Histone modification; Non-coding RNAs.

  Submit time: 20 March 2026

  Copyright: The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted biomedRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.
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  1	2026-02-24	10.12201/bmr.202603.00092V1	Download

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