Role of DNA De-methylation intermediate?5-hydroxymethylcytosine? in ovarian cancer management: A comprehensive review

Ovarian cancer remains the most eminent silent killer, with high morbidity and mortality among all gynaecological cancers. The advanced-stage patient???s diagnosis has a low survival rate caused by its asymptomatic progression and diverse histopathological sub-types, wherefore in poor prognosis and highly recurring malignancy with multidrug resistance towards chemotherapy. Epigenetic biomarkers open promising avenues of intriguing research to combat OC malignancy, furthermore a tool for its early diagnosis. 5-hydroxymethycytosine (5-hmC), alias the sixth base of the genome, is an intermediate formed during the recently established DNA demethylation process and catalysed via ten-eleven translocation (TET) family of enzymes. It plays a significant role in regulating gene expression and has sparked interest in various cancer types. This review summarizes the role of active DNA demethylation process, its enzymes and intermediate 5-hmC in epigenetic landscape of ovarian cancer as a potent biomarker for clinical translation in identification of therapeutic targets, diagnostic and prognostic evaluation.