Epigenetics and Immune Perspectives in Cancer: Overcoming Therapy Resistance

A Special Issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059) belonging to the section "Cancer Biology and Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 1522

Editor

Department of Biological Sciences, Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases, Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
Interests: epigenetics; immunotherapy; therapy resistance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer treatment has undergone significant progress in recent years, yet therapy resistance continues to be a formidable barrier to sustained patient remission and overall survival. Mounting evidence indicates that epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression, play a critical role in driving this resistance. In parallel, a deeper understanding of the immune system’s involvement in tumor progression has spurred the development of immunotherapies, which have revolutionized cancer care but face their own obstacles with resistance and immune evasion. Dysregulated epigenetic machinery in the tumor microenvironment can impair immune recognition, shield malignant cells from treatment, and promote therapeutic failure. Numerous studies underscore the interplay between epigenetic alterations, tumor immunogenicity, and antitumor immune responses. Combining epigenetic modulation strategies with innovative immunotherapeutic approaches holds exciting potential to overcome the limitations of traditional treatments and deliver more durable clinical responses.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue on “Epigenetics and Immune Perspectives in Cancer: Overcoming Therapy Resistance”. By assembling cutting-edge research, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of how epigenetic regulations and immune mechanisms can be manipulated to augment cancer therapy outcomes. This Special Issue aims to offer an interdisciplinary platform where scientists, clinicians, and other stakeholders can present research on epigenetic and immune-mediated therapies in cancer. We anticipate that this Special Issue will help shape a broader perspective on overcoming therapy resistance and refining current treatment paradigms.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Epigenetic modifiers (e.g., DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and dietary interventions) and synergy with immunotherapies;
  • Chromatin remodelers and their roles in immune cell infiltration and tumor microenvironment reprogramming;
  • Non-coding RNAs (e.g., microRNAs and lncRNAs) in regulating tumor immunogenicity and resistance mechanisms;
  • Novel biomarkers for predicting response or resistance to epigenetic–immune combination therapies;
  • Preclinical models and translational studies integrating epigenetic and immune-based interventions;
  • Clinical trials and emerging therapeutic strategies targeting epigenetic–immune crosstalk.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Xuemin Lu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • epigenetics
  • immunotherapy
  • therapy resistance
  • tumor microenvironment
  • DNA methylation
  • histone modifications
  • dietary intervention
  • non-coding RNAs
  • immune evasion
  • combination therapy

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 3065 KB  
Article
TAF1 Suppresses MHC-I Expression and Correlates with Poor Immunotherapy Response in Small Cell Lung Cancer
by Qing Gao, Kehong Wei, Deshen Pan, Yufei Xi, Chaoliang Xu and Deshui Jia
Biomedicines 2026, 14(5), 973; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14050973 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 1050
Abstract
Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine tumor characterized by an intrinsic resistance to immunotherapy, primarily due to its low immunogenicity and immune-cold tumor microenvironment. The mechanisms underlying this resistance remain poorly understood. Methods: A systematic screen of 796 epigenetic [...] Read more.
Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine tumor characterized by an intrinsic resistance to immunotherapy, primarily due to its low immunogenicity and immune-cold tumor microenvironment. The mechanisms underlying this resistance remain poorly understood. Methods: A systematic screen of 796 epigenetic regulators was performed to identify candidate genes associated with effector CD8+ T cell infiltration and clinical outcomes following chemoimmunotherapy in SCLC. This analysis integrated several public SCLC datasets, including single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from 20 SCLC tumors, bulk RNA-seq data from the IMpower133 cohort, proteomic profiles from the TU-SCLC cohort, and an independent scRNA-seq dataset of 39 SCLC tumors. In vitro and in vivo functional experiments were conducted to investigate the role of the candidate genes in SCLC. Results: The epigenetic regulator TAF1 emerged as a key candidate, with its expression negatively correlating with effector CD8+ T cell infiltration in SCLC. Clinically, patients with low TAF1 expression in tumors showed better outcomes following atezolizumab-based chemoimmunotherapy, particularly in ASCL1-high tumors. Additionally, TAF1 expression was inversely correlated with MHC-I expression. Knockdown of TAF1 in SCLC cells restored MHC-I expression, suppressed tumor growth in immunocompetent mice, and increased CD8+ T cell infiltration. Conclusions: TAF1 functions as a potential epigenetic suppressor of MHC-I expression in SCLC. Targeting TAF1 may represent a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance immunotherapy efficacy in SCLC. Full article
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