Cancer Summit

Epigenetics and Gene Editing in Cancer Therapy

Epigenetics and gene editing are emerging as powerful tools in oncology, offering new strategies to understand, prevent, and treat cancer at the molecular level. Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation, play a crucial role in tumor initiation, progression, and drug resistance. Targeting these reversible changes through epigenetic drugs—such as DNA methyltransferase inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors—provides opportunities for precision therapy, either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted agents. Gene editing technologies, particularly CRISPR-Cas9 and base-editing platforms, are enabling precise modifications of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and immune-regulatory pathways, paving the way for personalized cancer treatments. Recent advances include in vivo gene editing for solid tumors, engineered immune cells, and RNA-based therapeutics to correct or silence pathogenic mutations. Integration of epigenetic profiling with genomic and transcriptomic data enhances patient stratification, predictive biomarker development, and therapy optimization. Challenges such as off-target effects, delivery mechanisms, ethical considerations, and regulatory oversight remain critical for clinical translation. This session will explore cutting-edge research, clinical applications, and future perspectives of epigenetics and gene editing in oncology, highlighting their transformative potential to develop next-generation, patient-specific cancer therapies.