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Epigenomes
Special Issues
Epigenetic Signatures in Metabolic Health and Cancer
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Epigenetic Signatures in Metabolic Health and Cancer

A special issue of Epigenomes (ISSN 2075-4655).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 1088

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Aparna Duggirala

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Biomedical and Clinical Science Research Theme, School of Science, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
Interests: epigenetics; type 2 diabetes; biomarker discovery; metabolic diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

This Special Issue focuses on the epigenetic signatures associated with metabolic health and cancer. These epigenetic signatures are potential companion diagnostic biomarkers, which can aid in the prediction of disease risk or cancer prognosis. We invite articles related to epigenetics in the subject area of diabetes research, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and various types of cancer. Articles related to gene–environment interaction and cancer disease risk prediction will be considered. Understanding and elucidating the molecular signatures and pathways associated with metabolic health recovery and cancer diagnosis/prognosis would be the key purpose of this Special Issue.

Dr. Aparna Duggirala
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Epigenomes is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • DNA methylation
  • miRNA and gene targets
  • histone modifications
  • RNA methylation
  • molecular pathways
  • metabolic health
  • cancer
  • chromatin remodeling

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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24 pages, 7415 KB  
Systematic Review
Exploring the Impact of Nanotherapeutics on Histone H3 and H4 Acetylation Enrichment in Cancer Epigenome: A Systematic Scoping Synthesis
by Milad Shirvaliloo, Sepideh Khoee, Samideh Khoei, Roghayeh Sheervalilou, Parisa Mohammad Hosseini, Reza Afzalipour and Sakine Shirvalilou
Epigenomes 2025, 9(4), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/epigenomes9040044 - 7 Nov 2025
Viewed by 797
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Histone acetylation regulates gene expression and plays a key role in cancer pathophysiology. Nanotherapeutics are known to modulate histone acetylation and influence cancer progression. This systematic scoping review examines the effects of nanotherapeutics on histone acetylation enrichment across multiple cancers. Methods [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Histone acetylation regulates gene expression and plays a key role in cancer pathophysiology. Nanotherapeutics are known to modulate histone acetylation and influence cancer progression. This systematic scoping review examines the effects of nanotherapeutics on histone acetylation enrichment across multiple cancers. Methods: A systematic search of Embase, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement. A total of 13 studies were included. Data were analyzed and visualized in R, and risk of bias was assessed with ToxRTool (OSF Registration: 10.17605/OSF.IO/E643S). Results: Nanotherapeutics were most commonly evaluated against breast (21.4%), prostate (21.4%), pancreatic (14.3%), and bladder (14.3%) cancers. Primary nanomaterials used in the synthesis of nanotherapeutics included poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (25.0%), gold (21.4%) and arsenic oxide (21.4%) nanoparticles. Studied histone acetylation marks included H3K9ac, H3K14ac, H3K27ac and H4K16ac. Treatment with nanotherapeutics increased histone H3 and H4 acetylation enrichment, particularly H3K14ac in colorectal and prostate cancers and H4K16ac in ovarian cancer. Conversely, gold-based nanotherapeutics decreased H3K9ac and H3K14ac enrichment in breast cancer. The optimal concentration for most nanotherapeutics was ≤25 µM, with PpIX-FFYSV showing the strongest anticancer effect (viability <25%). Across four preclinical studies (n = 58), treatment with the nanotherapeutics reduced tumor size to less than 50% of control in 64% of animals (95% CI: 21–92%, I2 = 63.8%). Altered histone acetylation was associated with differential expression of CDKN1A, HSPA1, SREBF2 and TGFB. Conclusions: The evidence demonstrates that nanotherapeutics can alter histone acetylation patterns by modulating EP300/CBP, GCN5 and HDAC, preventing cancer progression and invasion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetic Signatures in Metabolic Health and Cancer)
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