Pathology Grand Rounds - Epigenetic Control of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy Efficacy

At the conclusion of this lecture, the attendees will learn:

*Nearly half of newly discovered cancer driver genes by the cancer genomics encoded for proteins involved in DNA or histone modifications, revealing a close and broad link between epigenetic alteration and cancer development.

*TET family of DNA dioxygenases represent the long-sought active DNA demethylases. TET genes play important functions in a wide range of cellular and developmental processes.

* Loss-of-function mutations targeting TET2 gene occur frequently in hematopoietic malignancies, demonstrating TET2 as a bode fide tumor suppressor.

* Mutations targeting TET genes are rare in solid cancer, but the TET catalytic activity is substantially reduced in wide range of solid tumors.