Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 9, 2025
09:04
Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells
Published on: March 7, 2025
952
Epigenetic Modifiers: Anti-Neoplastic Drugs With Immunomodulating Potential.
Ken Maes1,2, Anna Mondino3, Juan José Lasarte4
1Laboratory for Hematology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
Frontiers in Immunology
|April 16, 2021
Summary
Epigenetic modulating agents (EMAs) reprogram cancer cells and immune cells to overcome tumor immune evasion. Combining EMAs with other cancer therapies shows promise for improved anti-tumor immunity and cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Tumors evade host immune surveillance through immunosuppressive mechanisms.
- Epigenetic alterations are crucial for cancer immune evasion.
- Epigenetic modulating agents (EMAs) can restore anti-tumor immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review epigenetic changes in tumor-immune evasion.
- To discuss the role of EMAs in promoting anti-tumor immunity.
- To explore EMA combinations in cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on epigenetic changes and EMAs.
- Analysis of EMA mechanisms on cancer and immune cells.
- Discussion of EMA combinations with chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Main Results:
- EMAs modulate cancer cells (e.g., tumor antigens, immune checkpoints) and immune cells (e.g., stroma remodeling, effector function).
- EMAs can overcome peripheral tolerance to cancer cells.
- Combinations of EMAs with chemo- or immunotherapy are promising strategies.
Conclusions:
- EMAs can enhance anti-tumor immunity by targeting both cancer and immune cells.
- EMAs hold potential as a game-changer in combinatorial cancer therapies.
- EMAs could significantly impact the clinical management of cancer.
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