Intracranial tumors, including primary intrinsic brain tumors and brain metastases, remain among the most lethal of all human cancers despite decades of scientific advances. Primary central nervous system malignancies include gliomas, glioblastomas, meningiomas, as well as the pediatric-predominant tumors including medulloblastomas and ependymomas. Metastatic brain tumors, including from melanoma, lung, and breast cancer primaries are becoming increasingly prevalent with improved methods of detection and prolonged survival after diagnosis of the original tumor. Many scientific and therapeutic advances have expanded our understanding of the often-intersecting fields of cancer epigenetics and metabolism, which lie at the core of our current conceptual framework for the pathophysiology of these diseases. Epigenetics refers to the myriad regulatory mechanisms that exist outside of the linear DNA sequence, while metabolism controls the numerous intracellular processes essential for bioenergetics, signaling, and structural roles, among others.
A more comprehensive, robust, and integrative understanding of epigenetic and metabolic processes that generate and maintain intracranial neoplasms will enable more precise therapeutic targeting and improved patient outcomes. Thus, we hope this series of review and primary research articles will delineate mechanisms by which primary and metastatic brain tumors thrive within the intracranial setting. Although seemingly distinct at first glance, the fields of cancer epigenetics and metabolism frequently intersect and operate in parallel. While alterations in epigenetic pathways contribute to neoplastic metabolic dysregulation through transcriptional control mechanisms, metabolite abundance and availability reciprocally impinge upon epigenetic pathways. Both metabolic and epigenetic processes can further operate on cell-intrinsic and micro-environment dependent manners, with frequent inputs from stromal populations.
We are seeking primary research articles and reviews that explore the epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms underlying either primary or metastatic brain tumors, with a particular interest in those focusing on epigenetic or metabolic pathways that permit intracranial tumor growth, survival, and metastasis. Epigenetic modifications of interest include DNA and RNA methylation and factors controlling histone modifications, while metabolic topics may focus on the production of oncometabolites, or aberrant mitochondrial or glycolytic processes. We would additionally welcome manuscripts that emphasize interactions with the tumor microenvironment, including neural or astrocytic lineage populations, vascular lineages, and the immune system. We would aim to include articles that propose or identify novel therapeutic targets with potential for clinical translation, with descriptions of clinical advances in therapeutic evaluation or treatment. Approaches that utilize the integration of in silico approaches with in vitro or in vivo validation strategies will be prioritized.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
Intracranial tumors, including primary intrinsic brain tumors and brain metastases, remain among the most lethal of all human cancers despite decades of scientific advances. Primary central nervous system malignancies include gliomas, glioblastomas, meningiomas, as well as the pediatric-predominant tumors including medulloblastomas and ependymomas. Metastatic brain tumors, including from melanoma, lung, and breast cancer primaries are becoming increasingly prevalent with improved methods of detection and prolonged survival after diagnosis of the original tumor. Many scientific and therapeutic advances have expanded our understanding of the often-intersecting fields of cancer epigenetics and metabolism, which lie at the core of our current conceptual framework for the pathophysiology of these diseases. Epigenetics refers to the myriad regulatory mechanisms that exist outside of the linear DNA sequence, while metabolism controls the numerous intracellular processes essential for bioenergetics, signaling, and structural roles, among others.
A more comprehensive, robust, and integrative understanding of epigenetic and metabolic processes that generate and maintain intracranial neoplasms will enable more precise therapeutic targeting and improved patient outcomes. Thus, we hope this series of review and primary research articles will delineate mechanisms by which primary and metastatic brain tumors thrive within the intracranial setting. Although seemingly distinct at first glance, the fields of cancer epigenetics and metabolism frequently intersect and operate in parallel. While alterations in epigenetic pathways contribute to neoplastic metabolic dysregulation through transcriptional control mechanisms, metabolite abundance and availability reciprocally impinge upon epigenetic pathways. Both metabolic and epigenetic processes can further operate on cell-intrinsic and micro-environment dependent manners, with frequent inputs from stromal populations.
We are seeking primary research articles and reviews that explore the epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms underlying either primary or metastatic brain tumors, with a particular interest in those focusing on epigenetic or metabolic pathways that permit intracranial tumor growth, survival, and metastasis. Epigenetic modifications of interest include DNA and RNA methylation and factors controlling histone modifications, while metabolic topics may focus on the production of oncometabolites, or aberrant mitochondrial or glycolytic processes. We would additionally welcome manuscripts that emphasize interactions with the tumor microenvironment, including neural or astrocytic lineage populations, vascular lineages, and the immune system. We would aim to include articles that propose or identify novel therapeutic targets with potential for clinical translation, with descriptions of clinical advances in therapeutic evaluation or treatment. Approaches that utilize the integration of in silico approaches with in vitro or in vivo validation strategies will be prioritized.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.