Exploring Epigenetic Therapies to Overcome Chemoresistance in Cancer

Chemoresistance remains one of the most formidable challenges in effective cancer treatment, often leading to disease relapse, metastasis, and poor patient prognosis. While genetic mutations play a crucial role in therapy resistance, growing evidence underscores the significant influence of epigenetic alterations—such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs—in regulating key pathways that enable cancer cells to evade chemotherapeutic effects. Unlike genetic mutations, epigenetic changes are reversible, offering an exciting therapeutic window for intervention.

This Research Topic aims to explore the dynamic field of epigenetic therapies as innovative strategies to overcome chemoresistance across various cancer types. Submissions focused on combination therapies integrating epigenetic agents with conventional chemotherapeutics are particularly encouraged, as these approaches may synergistically disrupt resistance mechanisms and enhance treatment efficacy.

We also seek contributions elucidating the molecular mechanisms through which epigenetic modifications contribute to chemoresistance, including alterations in drug efflux pumps, transporters, apoptosis pathways, cancer stem cell maintenance, and DNA damage repair. Furthermore, studies highlighting the development of predictive biomarkers based on epigenetic signatures could pave the way for personalized therapeutic strategies, minimizing toxicity and improving patient outcomes.

This Research Topic welcomes Original Research Articles, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Perspectives, Commentaries, Data notes, and technical notes, but are not limited to the following:

• Mechanisms by which epigenetic alterations drive chemoresistance in cancer cells

• Development and evaluation of epigenetic drugs to overcome resistance

• Combination strategies integrating epigenetic modulators with chemotherapy

• Identification of epigenetic biomarkers predictive of chemotherapy response

• Role of non-coding RNAs in regulating drug sensitivity and resistance

• Epigenetic regulation of cancer stem cell populations contributing to therapy failure

• Advances in clinical trials investigating epigenetic interventions in chemoresistant cancers

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Cancer Epigenetics, Chemoresistant Cancers, Genetic Mutations

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.