role of epigenetics in cancer has been the subject of intensive study. For the purposes of epigenetic therapy, the two key findings from this research are that cancers frequently use epigenetic mechanisms to deactivate cellular antitumor systems and that most human cancers epigenetically activate oncogenes, such as the MYC proto-oncogene, at some point in their development. For more information on the exact epigenetic changes which take place in cancerous tissues, see the Cancer epigenetics page. The DNMT inhibitors 5-azacytidine and 5-aza-20-deoxycytidine mentioned above have both been approved by the FDA for the treatment of various forms of cancer. These drugs have been shown to reactivate the cellular antitumor systems repressed by the cancer, enabling the body to weaken the tumor. Zebularine, an activator of a demethylation enzyme has also been used with some success. Because of their wide-ranging effects throughout the entire organism, all of these drugs have major side effects, but survival rates are increased significantly when they are used for treatment. Dietary polyphenols, such as those found in green tea and red wine, are linked to antitumor activity, and are known to epigenetically influence many systems within the human body. An epigenetic mechanism for polyphenol anti-cancer effects seems likely, although beyond the basic finding that global DNA methylation rates decrease in response to increased consumption of polyphenol compounds, no specific information is known. Recent study has shown a role of BET inhibitors in colorectal cancer. It has been indicated that a combination of signaling pathway inhibitors and Bromodomain domain inhibitors (i.e. i-BET 151) could have synergistic impact on various genomic and epigenomic subtypes of colorectal cancer. Schizophrenia Research findings have demonstrated that schizophrenia is linked to numerous epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation and histone modifications. For example, the therapeutic efficacy of schizophrenic drugs such as antipsychotics are limited by epigenetic alterations and future studies are looking into the related biochemical mechanisms to improve the efficacy of such therapies. Even if epigenetic therapy wouldn't allow to fully reverse the disease, it can significantly improve the quality of life. See also Pharmacoepigenetics References Epigenetics Genetic mapping