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The dysregulated YY1-EZH2-RKIP axis in cancer cells and immune evasion

Talia Festekdjian1, Benjamin Bonavida1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California at Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. Reviews on Cancer
|August 23, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Cancer immunotherapy resistance can be overcome by targeting the YY1-EZH2-RKIP axis. This axis regulates immune evasion, and its inhibition may restore anti-tumor responses in non-responsive patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Immunotherapy has shown promise in cancer treatment, but a subset of patients remains unresponsive due to immune evasion.
  • Identifying the molecular mechanisms of immune evasion is crucial for developing novel targeted therapies to enhance immunotherapy efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the roles of Yin Yang1 (YY1), EZH2, and RKIP (PEBP1) in cancer immune evasion.
  • To elucidate the molecular regulatory roles and signaling pathways involved in the dysregulation of YY1, EZH2, and RKIP.
  • To establish the YY1-EZH2-RKIP axis as a potential therapeutic target for overcoming immunotherapy resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of molecular regulatory roles and signaling pathways.
  • Characterization of gene product dysregulation (overexpression/underexpression).
  • Identification of cross-talk signaling pathways among YY1, EZH2, and RKIP.

Main Results:

  • Identified YY1, EZH2, and RKIP as key gene products in immune evasion.
  • Described molecular pathways leading to YY1 and EZH2 overexpression and RKIP underexpression.
  • Established the dysregulated YY1-EZH2-RKIP axis and its role in regulating immune evasion.

Conclusions:

  • The YY1-EZH2-RKIP axis is a novel therapeutic target for inhibiting immune evasion in cancer.
  • Targeting this axis by inhibiting YY1 or EZH2, or inducing RKIP, may restore anti-tumor immunotherapy.
  • Further preclinical investigation of agents targeting this axis is warranted, with a focus on tumor-specific delivery.
Keywords:
CancerCross-talksEZH2Immune evasionRKIPTargeting therapeuticallyYY1

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