Role of Epigenetic Regulators in the Initiation, Progression, and Metastasis of Cancer

Cancer is a complex disease that is driven by imbalances in the expression and functioning of specific oncogenic or tumor-suppressive proteins involved in regulating the various hallmarks of cancer. Research in the past decade has brought to the forefront the critical role of various epigenetic players in regulating the gene expression. Apart from the well-known epigenetic regulators such as histone modifiers, DNA methylases/demethylases and chromatin remodelers, a growing list of RNA modifiers and various non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, snoRNAs and piRNAs have been shown to function as gene expression modulators. More exciting have been the discoveries demonstrating the existence of complex interactions (competition, co-operation, sponging, etc.) between these epigenetic players that fine-tune the gene expression. Several clinical trials are ongoing, targeting these epigenetic machinery owing to the prominent role they play in cancer. However, despite the considerable progress in the last decade, our understanding of the functioning of epigenetic machinery to control various aspects of cancer cells is far from complete.

This Research Topic aims to report novel epigenetic players with mechanistic insights and complex interactions that guide the initiation, progression and metastasis of cancer. We welcome both basic and clinical studies that, through biochemical, multi-omics, meta-analyses, or systems biology-based approach, unravel novel epigenetic regulators that may have diagnostic/prognostic or therapeutic significance. Manuscripts featuring novel approaches and methods such as Methylscape, EpiTOF, Chromatin Integration Labelling, Single-cell sequencing or CRISPR-based epigenome studies to investigate epigenetic mechanisms are encouraged.

We welcome Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Reviews and Mini-Reviews that cover, but are not limited to the following topics:
• Novel epigenetic players or modifications and their role in cancer;
• RNA modifications and their role in cancer
• Non-Coding RNAs and regulation of gene expression in cancer
• Crosstalk between the tumor microenvironment and epigenetic machinery
• Role of epigenetic players in the regulation of cancer initiation, progression, metastasis and drug resistance
• Deciphering the interactions between the epigenetic players in cancer
• Effect of carcinogens on epigenetic machinery
• Epigenetic players as therapeutic targets for cancer
• The potential of epigenetic players as diagnostic/prognostic/predictive biomarkers
• Development of novel methods to study epigenetics
• Application of novel techniques to identify epigenetic players and their role in cancer