Age-Dependent Epigenetic Modifications Shaping Immune Responses in Cancer Progression

Aging fundamentally transforms the human genome through accumulative epigenetic modifications—including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and changes in non-coding RNA expression. These age-dependent epigenetic changes profoundly affect the immune system, shaping immune cell function, diversity, and responsiveness. The complex interplay between aging, epigenetics, and immunity is increasingly recognized as a driving force in cancer progression, therapeutic response, and clinical outcomes.

This Research Topic seeks to bring together diverse contributions to better understand how age-related epigenetic changes modulate immune responses during cancer development and progression. We welcome all article types, including but not limited to: original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, systematic reviews, case reports, brief research reports, hypothesis & theory articles, methods, data reports, and opinion pieces.

Key questions and themes of interest include:

- How do age-dependent epigenetic modifications impact immune surveillance and the tumor microenvironment?

- What molecular mechanisms connect epigenetic aging with immune dysfunction in cancer?

- Can targeting epigenetic pathways rejuvenate aging immune responses and improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes?

- What roles do non-coding RNAs and chromatin remodeling play in the aging of immune cells in oncological settings?

- Are there emerging biomarkers or novel therapeutic targets at the intersection of aging, epigenetics, and cancer immunity?

Multidisciplinary contributions are especially encouraged, including studies leveraging technological advances such as multi-omics, single-cell approaches, computational modeling, and translational animal/human models. By fostering dialogue across disciplines and article types, this collection aims to inspire innovative insights that will advance precision medicine for aging and cancer.

Article types and fees

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

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... 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
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Epigenetic Aging, Immune System, Cancer Progression, Tumor Microenvironment, Immunoepigenetics

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.