Lineage Plasticity and Epigenetic Rewiring in Hormone-Driven Cancers

Cells differentiate into various lineages that are maintained primarily through epigenetic mechanisms such as methylation. These lineage commitments, which are reflected in transcriptional networks that are essential for defining the cell's behavior within a normal organ, are durable and usually persist for the cell's lifetime. Malignant solid tumor cells undergo dramatic genetic and epigenetic alterations that generally preserve these lineage traits, but selective pressure from targeted systemic therapy can induce changes consistent with a shift in cell lineage. This phenomenon, termed lineage plasticity, has recently been highlighted as an important mechanism of prostate tumor resistance to therapy targeting androgen receptor signaling, a key driver of cell growth in the normal prostate and most prostate tumors. It is becoming clear that studying lineage plasticity through both genetic and epigenetic analysis will be essential to understand the role of this phenomenon in tumor initiation, progression, and response to therapy.

The goal of this Research Topic is to assemble new research relevant to improving the lives of patients with endocrine-driven cancer.

This article collection welcomes submission regarding basic, translational, or clinical studies addressing lineage plasticity in endocrine-driven tumors. Studies investigating how transcriptional and epigenetic alterations are relevant to lineage plasticity are particularly relevant. This Special Issue will welcome Original Research, Review, and Perspective articles.

COI: David Quigley receives consulting income from Varian and Circle Pharma.