Crosstalk between immune regulation, epigenetic reprogramming, and genomic instability in cancer development and therapy

Cancer arises and progresses through a tight interplay between immune surveillance, epigenetic reprogramming, and genomic instability. These three layers do not act in isolation: genomic instability generates neoantigens and chromosomal aberrations that reshape how tumor cells are recognized by the immune system, while epigenetic reprogramming controls which of these genomic changes are expressed and how immune cells within the tumor microenvironment are recruited, polarized, or silenced. In turn, chronic immune pressure and inflammatory signaling can drive further mutagenesis and epigenetic drift, creating a feedback loop that shapes tumor evolution, immune escape, and response to therapy.Untangling this crosstalk — how instability at the genome and epigenome level rewires the immune microenvironment, and how immune signals feed back onto tumor DNA and chromatin — is central to advancing precision immuno-oncology, from identifying reliable biomarkers to designing therapies that overcome immune evasion and treatment resistance.This Research Topic welcomes original research, reviews, and perspectives addressing the immune, epigenetic, and genomic mechanisms that shape cancer development and therapeutic response. We aim to bring together studies that bridge molecular mechanism with clinical application, highlighting how epigenetic and genomic alterations influence the tumor-immune microenvironment and inform the next generation of targeted immunotherapies.Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:- Immunological and molecular biomarkers of epigenetically altered programs for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response- Epigenetic regulation of the tumor-immune microenvironment- Targeted immunotherapies, including antibody-drug conjugates and immune checkpoint modulation involving epigenetic mechanisms- Multi-omics and AI-driven target identification in precision immuno-oncology- Mechanisms of immune evasion and therapy resistanceImmune-associated genomic instability, mutagenesis, and their implications for cancer development and progressionBy integrating immunological, epigenetic, and genomic perspectives, this Research Topic seeks to advance the mechanistic understanding and clinical translation of precision immuno-oncology, ultimately supporting improved diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies for cancer patients. Topic editors: Mohammad Aasif Khan, Sheersh Massey, AFZAL HUSAIN Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85705/crosstalk-between-immune-regulation-epigenetic-reprogramming-and-genomic-instability-in-cancer-development-and-therapy