Chromatin 'Readers' as molecular architects in shaping Metabolic Landscape and Extracellular Matrix in Breast Cancer

Abstract

Over the past few decades, the cancer hallmarks have been instrumental in simplifying the complexity of the disease into fundamental principles. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic regulation plays a pivotal role in shaping cancer phenotypes and genotypes. Epigenetic modifications are recognized by a ubiquitous class of proteins called “readers/effectors” which has become an important paradigm in chromatin biology. We have identified that chromatin readers play seminal role in regulating most of the hallmark signatures in breast cancers thereby intrinsically contributing to breast tumor heterogeneity. Their dynamic role in metabolic reprogramming in 3D-tumor core and periphery will be highlighted. Oxygen and nutrient depleted tumor core have altered metabolic programs promoting their sustenance that are epigenetically regulated by the chromatin readers. Notably, the cancer cells and their associated stromal cells can support primary tumor metastasis by reshaping extracellular ma...