Resolution of Complex Issues in Genome Regulation and Cancer Requires Non-Linear and Network-Based Thermodynamics

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 240
• Main Authors: Erenpreisa, Jekaterina, Giuliani, Alessandro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 29.12.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: 21st century; Avalanches; Biology; Cancer; Genes; Genetic engineering; Genomes; Medical research; Phase transitions; Proteins; Review; Symmetry; reprogramming; transcription speciation; genome positional information; chromatin network; cancer resistance to drugs; cancer reversion therapy; self-organisation
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010240

The apparent lack of success in curing cancer that was evidenced in the last four decades of molecular medicine indicates the need for a global re-thinking both its nature and the biological approaches that we are taking in its solution. The reductionist, one gene/one protein method that has served us well until now, and that still dominates in biomedicine, requires complementation with a more systemic/holistic approach, to address the huge problem of cross-talk between more than 20,000 protein-coding genes, about 100,000 protein types, and the multiple layers of biological organization. In this perspective, the relationship between the chromatin network organization and gene expression regulation plays a fundamental role. The elucidation of such a relationship requires a non-linear thermodynamics approach to these biological systems. This change of perspective is a necessary step for developing successful ‘tumour-reversion’ therapeutic strategies.