Edited by:
Federico Pio Fabrizio, PhD, Kore University of Enna, Italy
Mariarosaria Conte, PhD, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Italy
Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 17 November 2025
Epigenetics and Cancer Immunotherapy
Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 17 November 2025
About the Collection
Crosstalks between tumors and the immune system could be considered a complex and dynamic process that strongly affects the development and progression of cancer. In this regard, epigenetic modifications play a pivotal role in shaping tumor microenvironment, which in turn, modifies anticancer immune responses. Among these mechanisms, DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling, are particularly involved in a dense and biological network in the modulation of key immune-related pathways (i.e. immune checkpoints, and cytokine signaling), conditions strictly necessary for the evolution of solid cancers.
Significant advances in epigenetic and immunotherapy research have allowed us to open our horizons in the understanding of combination strategies that could contribute to enhance immune recognition and response, such as epigenetic drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors and/or adoptive cell therapies. However, the main challenge remains to improve patient selection, overcome acquired resistance mechanisms, and reduce toxicities associated with combinatorial strategies in order to reduce tumor burden and activate a durable anti-tumor immune response.
In this Collection, we discuss the intersection of epigenetics and immunotherapy, which extends to intriguing insights regarding immune regulation, biomarkers discovery, and novel therapeutic agents. We welcome submissions of original research articles and reviews.
The topics of the Collection include:
1. Epigenetic Modulation of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Solid Cancer
• Exploring the role of DNA methylation in cancer development
• Exploring the role of histone modifications in regulating gene expression by remodeling chromatin
2. Epigenetic Biomarkers for Immunotherapy Response
• Identifying epigenetic signatures predictive of response to Immunotherapy
• Detecting epigenetic biomarkers in resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors and other immunotherapies
3. Combination Strategies: Epigenetic Therapy and Immunotherapy
• Investigating synergistic approaches that enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade
• Focusing on the importance of adoptive T-cell therapy
• Extending the key role of cancer vaccines in solid cancers through epigenetic modulation
4. Overcoming Resistance to Immunotherapy via Epigenetic Targeting
• Understanding epigenetic mechanisms in acquired resistance
• Providing strategies to restore immune sensitivity
5. Future Perspectives: Personalized Epigenetic-Immunotherapy Approaches
• Integrating epigenetic and immunotherapeutic insights into precision medicine for personalized cancer treatments.
There are currently no articles in this collection.
Submission Guidelines
Back to topThis Collection welcomes submissions of original research and review articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal.
Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. Please, select the appropriate Collection title “Epigenetics and Cancer Immunotherapy" under the “Details” tab during the submission stage.
Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.
The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer-review process. The peer-review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.