Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
197,768 studies31 sourcesUpdated 43 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Cancers

Epigenetic Rewiring of Enhancer–Promoter Interactions in Cancer: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

  • Lavanya Choppavarapu1
  • Bakhtiyor Nosirov1
  • Michael Kahn2
  • Victor X. Jin1
  1. 1Data Science Institute and MCW Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
  2. 2Department of Cancer Biology and Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
Open at sourceDOICite

Abstract

Cancer is increasingly recognized as a disease of transcriptional dysregulation in which genetic alterations and epigenetic remodeling cooperate to reprogram gene regulatory networks that govern cellular identity, proliferation, differentiation, and therapeutic response. Enhancer–promoter interactions are an important component of the regulatory systems that establish cell-type-specific gene expression and lineage identity. Cancer cells exploit the intrinsic plasticity of the epigenome to remodel enhancer landscapes, redistribute lineage-specific transcription factors (TFs), alter chromatin accessibility, reorganize three-dimensional (3D) genome architecture, and establish novel enhancer–promoter interactions that sustain oncogenic transcriptional programs. In this review, we discuss how enhancer–promoter communication is established and maintained within the 3D genome and examine the molecular mechanisms and drivers underlying epigenetic rewiring of enhancer–promoter interactions in cancer. We also highlight how the alterations of these epigenetic processes contribute to cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Finally, we discuss epigenetic therapeutic strategies and emerging genomic technologies that exploit aberrant enhancer–promoter interactions to advance precision oncology.

Related

  1. Navigating the Biomolecular Corona: Biological Interactions and Therapeutic Implications of RNA–Lipid Nanoparticles
    Anamika Saini, Shiyao Li, Zhaoran Wang +2
    ACS NanoPeer-reviewedLicence not stated14 citedMolecular biology & gene regulationOpenAlex
  2. Crosstalk between PI3K/AKT signaling and epigenetic regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities
    Zhibo Zhang, Jie Liu, Guofeng Lei +1
    Frontiers in cell and developmental biologyPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textMolecular biology & gene regulationEurope PMCPMC
  3. Epigenetic Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Diseases: From Genetic Regulation to Therapeutic Potential
    Xiaoman Lv, Mincong Huang, Wenjuan Long +8
    International Journal of Molecular SciencesPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textMolecular biology & gene regulationCrossrefEurope PMC
  4. Epigenetic regulation of immune checkpoint signaling by microbial metabolites: mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and future perspectives
    Asiya Nazir, Rafia Nazir, Sarika Sharma +2
    Frontiers in immunologyPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textMolecular biology & gene regulationEurope PMCCrossref
  5. Epigenetic regulation of humoral immunity: molecular mechanisms, diseases and therapeutic targets.
    Shaocun Zhang, Yu Wang, Xin Min +2
    Signal transduction and targeted therapyPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textMolecular biology & gene regulationEurope PMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{choppavarapu2026epigenetic,
  title = {{Epigenetic Rewiring of Enhancer–Promoter Interactions in Cancer: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications}},
  author = {Lavanya Choppavarapu and Bakhtiyor Nosirov and Michael Kahn and Victor X. Jin},
  journal = {Cancers},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/cancers18213416},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/21/3416},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Epigenetic Rewiring of Enhancer–Promoter Interactions in Cancer: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications
AU  - Lavanya Choppavarapu
AU  - Bakhtiyor Nosirov
AU  - Michael Kahn
AU  - Victor X. Jin
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/22
JO  - Cancers
DO  - 10.3390/cancers18213416
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/21/3416
AB  - Cancer is increasingly recognized as a disease of transcriptional dysregulation in which genetic alterations and epigenetic remodeling cooperate to reprogram gene regulatory networks that govern cellular identity, proliferation, differentiation, and therapeutic response. Enhancer–promoter interactions are an important component of the regulatory systems that establish cell-type-specific gene expression and lineage identity. Cancer cells exploit the intrinsic plasticity of the epigenome to remodel enhancer landscapes, redistribute lineage-specific transcription factors (TFs), alter chromatin accessibility, reorganize three-dimensional (3D) genome architecture, and establish novel enhancer–promoter interactions that sustain oncogenic transcriptional programs. In this review, we discuss how enhancer–promoter communication is established and maintained within the 3D genome and examine the molecular mechanisms and drivers underlying epigenetic rewiring of enhancer–promoter interactions in cancer. We also highlight how the alterations of these epigenetic processes contribute to cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Finally, we discuss epigenetic therapeutic strategies and emerging genomic technologies that exploit aberrant enhancer–promoter interactions to advance precision oncology.
SN  - 2072-6694
ER  -