Cat Eye Syndrome Chromosome Region Candidate 2 (CECR2) in chromatin remodeling and cancer: A review

CECR2 is a bromodomain-containing epigenetic regulator essential for maintaining chromatin architecture and is implicated in diverse biological processes, including cellular development, spermatogenesis, neurulation, and DNA damage response. Acting as a histone acetyl-lysine reader, CECR2 participates in chromatin remodeling through the formation of tissue-specific complexes with ISWI proteins. With its well-established roles in somatic cell reprogramming, CECR2 has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic target in breast cancer metastasis. In this review, we discuss its origin, structural features, regulatory mechanisms, and assembly into multiple protein complexes that mediate its tissue-specific functions in coordination with various transcription factors. Furthermore, we emphasize its significance in pathological conditions such as developmental disorders and cancer, aiming to elucidate the molecular connections that underlie its role in tumor progression and potential as a drug target.