Epigenetic remodeling of the immune landscape in cancer: therapeutic hurdles and opportunities
Journal
Journal of biomedical science
Journal Volume
30
Journal Issue
1
Date Issued
2023-01-10
Author(s)
Abstract
The tumor immune microenvironment represents a sophisticated ecosystem where various immune cell subtypes communicate with cancer cells and stromal cells. The dynamic cellular composition and functional characteristics of the immune landscape along the trajectory of cancer development greatly impact the therapeutic efficacy and clinical outcome in patients receiving systemic antitumor therapy. Mounting evidence has suggested that epigenetic mechanisms are the underpinning of many aspects of antitumor immunity and facilitate immune state transitions during differentiation, activation, inhibition, or dysfunction. Thus, targeting epigenetic modifiers to remodel the immune microenvironment holds great potential as an integral part of anticancer regimens. In this review, we summarize the epigenetic profiles and key epigenetic modifiers in individual immune cell types that define the functional coordinates of tumor permissive and non-permissive immune landscapes. We discuss the immunomodulatory roles of current and prospective epigenetic therapeutic agents, which may open new opportunities in enhancing cancer immunotherapy or overcoming existing therapeutic challenges in the management of cancer.
Subjects
Adaptive immunity; Chromatin accessibility; DNA methylation; Epigenetic therapy; Histone modifications; Immunotherapy; Innate immunity; Tumor immune microenvironment
Publisher
BMC
Type
review