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Targeting the epigenetic regulation of antitumour immunity

Simon J Hogg1,2,3, Paul A Beavis2,4, Mark A Dawson1,2,5

  • 1Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery
|September 15, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic alterations in cancer impact tumor immunogenicity and immune cell function. Targeting these epigenetic changes offers new strategies for combining epigenetic therapies with immunotherapies to improve cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Cancer biology
  • Immunology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Epigenetic dysregulation drives cancer development by altering gene expression.
  • Epigenomic changes affect not only cancer cells but also the tumor microenvironment and immune response.
  • Understanding these alterations is crucial for developing novel cancer treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of DNA methylation and histone modifications in tumor immunogenicity.
  • To examine how epigenetic modulation impacts anti-tumor immune cell function.
  • To highlight opportunities and challenges in combining epigenetic therapies with cancer immunotherapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on cancer epigenetics and immunology.
  • Analysis of epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation and histone modifications.
  • Exploration of small-molecule inhibitors targeting epigenetic regulators.

Main Results:

  • Aberrant epigenetic processes, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, significantly influence tumor immunogenicity.
  • Epigenetic modulation can enhance the function of anti-tumor immune cells.
  • Small-molecule inhibitors targeting epigenetic regulators show promise for boosting anti-tumor immunity.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic therapies hold potential for enhancing cancer immunotherapy efficacy.
  • Combining epigenetic and immune-based treatments requires addressing complex interactions.
  • Further research is needed to optimize combination strategies for improved patient outcomes.

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