Epigenetic Immune Deregulation: A Targeted Approach

Epigenetic mechanisms are fundamental regulators of immune cell differentiation, activation, and function, orchestrating dynamic responses to physiological and pathological stimuli. In cancer, aberrant epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNA regulation, contribute to immune evasion, tumor progression, and resistance to therapy. Increasing evidence demonstrates that epigenetic dysregulation reshapes the tumor microenvironment by impairing antigen presentation, promoting immune suppressive cell populations, and altering cytokine signaling pathways. Advances in multi-omics technologies and single-cell profiling have deepened our understanding of the crosstalk between epigenetic alterations and anti-tumor immunity. These discoveries have opened new avenues for therapeutic intervention, particularly through the development of epigenetic drugs capable of restoring immune surveillance and enhancing responses to immunotherapy.This Research Topic aims to explore the emerging landscape of epigenetic immune deregulation in cancer and its potential as a target for precision oncology. Despite major advances in immunotherapy, a substantial proportion of patients exhibit primary or acquired resistance, underscoring the need to better understand the molecular mechanisms governing immune dysfunction within tumors. Epigenetic alterations have emerged as key drivers of immune escape by modulating immune checkpoint expression, antigen processing machinery, inflammatory signaling, and immune cell plasticity.Recent progress in epigenetic therapeutics, including DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, bromodomain inhibitors, and chromatin remodeling modulators, has demonstrated the potential to reprogram the tumor immune microenvironment and improve therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, integration of epigenomics with transcriptomics, proteomics, and spatial biology is enabling the identification of novel biomarkers and combinatorial treatment strategies. This collection seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for interdisciplinary studies that bridge cancer epigenetics and immuno-oncology, ultimately advancing translational approaches for personalized cancer therapy.This collection welcomes contributions addressing the molecular, translational, and clinical dimensions of epigenetic immune deregulation in cancer. We encourage studies investigating how epigenetic mechanisms influence tumor-immune interactions, immune cell function, therapy resistance, and response to immunotherapies. Submissions exploring novel therapeutic strategies, predictive biomarkers, and multi-omics approaches are particularly encouraged.We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:- Epigenetic regulation of tumor immunity and immune evasion- DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling in cancer immunology- Epigenetic modulation of immune checkpoints and antigen presentation- Tumor microenvironment remodeling through epigenetic mechanisms- Non-coding RNAs in immune regulation and cancer progression- Epigenetic biomarkers for immunotherapy response and resistance- Combination therapies integrating epigenetic drugs and immunotherapy- Single-cell and spatial omics approaches to epigenetic immune interactions- Translational and clinical studies of epigenetic-targeted therapies in oncologyPlease note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent clinical or patient cohort, or biological validation in vitro or in vivo, which are not based on public databases) are not suitable for publication in this Research Topic. Topic editors: Matthew J. Marton Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84767/epigenetic-immune-deregulation-a-targeted-approach