About this Research Topic
Within the TME, epigenetic regulators play integral roles in meeting the metabolic needs of the cell, these changes in metabolism also affect the patterns of gene activation, changing the identity of cancer cells to render them more invasive, and resistant to therapeutics. In turn, metabolites can regulate the activity of epigenetic modulators both as substrates and as co-factors. Given the abundance of energy metabolites and their intimate connection with epigenetic modulators, this mechanism guarantees a the finely tuned modulation of gene expression in response to cellular energetic status. Thus, there is tight and complex relationship between metabolism and epigenetic regulation, which remains incompletely understood. A better understanding of this relationship and therapeutics able to harness it present great potential for anti-cancer targeted therapies.
This Research Topic will delve into the fundamental, translational, and clinical research focused on better understanding epigenetic influences in the TME, and metabolic reprogramming of the TME. It also encourages contributions on immunometabolism, cancer cell metabolism, and the alteration of metabolic pathways within this setting. This broadly includes glycolytic, fatty acid, mitochondrial, as well as other forms of metabolism.
The aim of this Research Topic is to propel the dynamic field of epigenetic regulation and metabolism within the TME, assist in the creation and application of new therapies targeting epigenetic mechanisms, and reduce the adverse effects associated with cancer treatments. Submissions are invited in the form of Original Research Article, Review, Mini-review, and Clinical Report. We seek contributions that explore:
- How epigenetic processes and regulatory mechanisms operate within the TME, including regulation via non-coding RNAs and protein post-translational modifications.
- The discovery and detailed examination of epigenetic processes in the TME that could have diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic value.
- The function and underlying processes of metabolism in both cancer cells and the adjacent supportive tissue cells within the TME.
- The role of immunometabolism within the TME.
- The adaptability of metabolism within the TME.
- The influence and control of metabolic changes on immune surveillance, cancer evasion, and immunotherapy.
- Metabolic checkpoint regulating tumor-related immunity
- Novel metabolic/epigenomic targeted therapies
-Discovery of new materials that affect tumor cell biological function
Note that manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this research topic.
Keywords: Epigenetic Regulation, Tumor Microenvironment, protein post-translational modifications, non-coding RNAs, metabolism
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.