Using epigenetic modifiers to target cancer stem cell immunoevasion

Claudia Galassi; Ilio Vitale; Lorenzo Galluzzi

doi:10.1016/j.ccell.2021.11.003

Using epigenetic modifiers to target cancer stem cell immunoevasion

Cancer Cell. 2021 Dec 13;39(12):1573-1575. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.11.003.

Authors

Claudia Galassi¹, Ilio Vitale², Lorenzo Galluzzi³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
² Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, c/o IRCSS Candiolo, Torino, Italy; Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy.
³ Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: deadoc80@gmail.com.

PMID: 34906316
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.11.003

Abstract

Two recent reports in Nature highlight a novel mechanism of immunoevasion that relies on the SET domain bifurcated histone lysine methyltransferase 1 (SETDB1)-dependent epigenetic suppression of endogenous retroelements in melanoma cells. Because SETDB1 is highly expressed by the stem cell compartment, these findings delineate an innovative strategy for restoring cancer stem cell immunosurveillance.

Keywords: KDM5B; MAVS; STING1; endogenous retroviruses; immune checkpoint inhibitors; type I IFN.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Comment

MeSH terms

Epigenesis, Genetic
Epigenomics
Humans
Neoplasms*
Neoplastic Stem Cells