Summary – Epigenetic Checkpoint Blockade
Checkpoint inhibitors targeting immune checkpoints have revolutionised cancer treatment, but a new frontier lies in epigenetic checkpoints. These act at the chromatin level to silence retroelements—ancient mobile genetic elements that, when re-expressed in cancer, can trigger immune recognition through viral mimicry and generate novel antigens.
Key regulators such as TRIM28 and HuSH act as gatekeepers by switching off retroelements. Blocking these epigenetic checkpoints could make tumours more visible to both innate and adaptive immunity, potentially leading to more powerful therapies and even cancer vaccines.
Unlike conventional checkpoint inhibitors, epigenetic approaches may stimulate broader immune responses, though dysregulation of these pathways in some cancers can enable immune evasion. Understanding and targeting epigenetic checkpoints may open the door to next-generation immunotherapies for hard-to-treat cancers.
Credit: Professor Helen Rowe – Cancer Research