What nature has to offer: Opportunities for immuno-oncology - Review Article

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Rhys

Recent rapid development of cancer therapy reflects a paradigm shift from direct targeting of cancer cells to reprogramming the immune tumor microenvironment. Growing evidence indicates that epigenetic-targeting compounds, termed epidrugs, are crucial for shaping cancer cell immunogenicity and remodeling antitumor immunity. Natural compounds have long been recognized as epigenetic modulators that also drive immunomodulatory and anticancer effects. Unifying their role in immuno-oncology may enable more effective cancer therapies. This review examines mechanisms by which natural compounds modulate epigenetic machinery to orchestrate antitumor immune responses.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Epidrugs: toward epigenetic regulation of antitumor immunity

| Volume 31 Issue 2 | Article 2 | | --- | --- | | What nature has to offer: Opportunities for immuno-oncology
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. | | Recommended Citation Kousar, Rubina; Lin, Cheng-Han; Patrick, Bbumba; He, Miao; Wu, Dong-Chuan; and Li, Xing-Guo (2023) "What nature has to offer: Opportunities for immuno-oncology," Journal of Food and Drug Analysis: Vol. 31 : Iss. 2 , Article 2. Available at: [https://doi.org/10.38212/2224-6614.3459](https://doi.org/10.38212/2224-6614.3459) This Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by Journal of Food and Drug Analysis. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Food and Drug Analysis by an authorized editor of Journal of Food and Drug Analysis. REVIEW ARTICLE What nature has to offer: Opportunities for immuno-oncology Rubina Kousar a,b,c,d,1, Cheng-Han Lin a,b,c,1, Bbumba Patrick a,b,c, Miao He e, Dong-Chuan Wu a,f, Xing-Guo Li a,b,c, * a Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 406040, Taiwan b Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, 406040, Taiwan c Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 406040, Taiwan d Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, 406040, Taiwan e PhD Program in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA f Translational Medicine Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan Abstract Recent rapid development of cancer therapy has come about with the paradigm shift from the traditional goal of targeting cancer cells themselves, to reprograming the immune tumor microenvironment. Accumulating evidence shows that compounds that target epigenetic regulation, called epidrugs, play a crucial role in mediating the immunogenicity of cancer cells and in reshaping antitumor immunity. A large body of literature has recognized natural compounds as epigenetic modulators for their immunomodulatory effects and anticancer potential. Unifying our understanding of the role of these biologically active compounds in immuno-oncology may open new avenues for more effective cancer therapies. In this review, we explore how natural compounds modulate the epigenetic machinery to shape antitumor immune response, highlighting the promise offered by the Mother Nature that could be exploited therapeutically to improve outcomes for cancer patients. Keywords: Cancer immunotherapy, Epidrugs, Natural compounds 1. Introduction M ost cancers are fundamentally driven by the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations. In addition to their abilities to confer cancer cell growth advantage, these changes play a critical role in caner initiation and progression by dynamically reshaping the tumor microenvironment and reprogramming immune cells [1,2]. These ﬁndings have created an emerging route to exploit the inherent ﬂexibility and reversibility of epigenetic modulators of immune-oncology. In recent years, natural compounds have been recognized for their properties that reportedly modulate epigenetic and immune mechanisms in cancer [3,4]. Although the effects of these compounds on the immunogenicity of cancer cells, and the epigenetic mechanisms involved herein are still under investigation, what we have learned from Mother Nature may represent unique opportunities that can be exploited therapeutically to enhance antitumor immune response and ultimately improve clinical outcome. In this review, we ﬁrst highlight the US

FAQs

What therapeutic paradigm does the review highlight in cancer treatment?

The review highlights a shift from targeting cancer cells themselves to reprogramming the immune tumor microenvironment.

What are epidrugs and why are they important in immuno-oncology?

Epidrugs target epigenetic regulation and are described as crucial for mediating cancer immunogenicity and reshaping antitumor immunity.

How do natural compounds contribute according to the review?

The review explains that natural compounds act as epigenetic modulators and immunomodulatory agents, potentially improving antitumor immune response and clinical outcomes.

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Rhys