Epigenetic Regulation of Medulloblastoma Proliferation by Finasteride-Induced Modulation of BTG2 and CD244 Gene Methylation
May 2023
TLDR Finasteride may help treat childhood brain tumors by activating certain genes.
The study presented at the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting investigated the epigenetic effects of finasteride on medulloblastoma, a common childhood brain tumor. Finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, was found to modulate the methylation of the BTG2 and CD244 genes, leading to their upregulation. BTG2 acts as an inhibitor of medulloblastoma cell proliferation and differentiation, while CD244 enhances natural killer cell activity against the tumor. The findings suggest that finasteride-induced upregulation of these genes could be explored as a potential therapeutic approach for medulloblastoma.