Cancer Stem Cell & Oncology Research

Chromatin Organization and Cellular Identity

Chromatin organization plays a central role in maintaining cancer stem cell identity by controlling access to genetic information. The spatial arrangement of DNA and associated proteins determines which genes are active or silenced. In cancer stem cells, chromatin exists in a flexible and dynamic state that supports rapid changes in gene expression. Regions associated with stemness remain accessible, while differentiation related regions are compacted and repressed. This organization allows cancer stem cells to preserve an undifferentiated state while retaining the ability to respond to environmental signals. Chromatin remodeling complexes actively modify nucleosome positioning, enabling transitions between cellular states. Disruption of normal chromatin architecture contributes to transcriptional instability and abnormal gene regulation. These changes reinforce stem like properties and support cellular plasticity. Chromatin based regulation also integrates metabolic signals and stress responses, linking cellular physiology to gene expression control. Studying chromatin organization provides essential biological insight into how cancer stem cells maintain identity and adaptability.