Prof. Kyung Hyun Yoo's Team Proposes Next-Generation Cancer Therapy Targeting 3D Genome Architecture
- Views 22
- Writer 커뮤니케이션팀
- 보도일자 2026-06-26
(from left) Professor Kyung Hyun Yoo and Dr. Sunyoung Jang, Division of Biological Sciences
A research team led by Professor Kyung Hyun Yoo of the Division of Biological Sciences has published a comprehensive review analyzing the mechanisms underlying dysregulated three-dimensional (3D) genome architecture, a critical contributor to cancer development and progression, and proposed emerging therapeutic strategies that target these structural alterations.
According to the team, conventional cancer genetics research has long focused on linear alterations in DNA sequences. Recent studies, however, have revealed that the 3D organization of the genome within the nucleus plays a pivotal role in regulating gene expression and that abnormal reorganization of this architecture can drive cancer initiation and progression.
In the study, the researchers comprehensively reviewed the molecular mechanisms underlying the disruption and rewiring of 3D genome architecture in cancer cells. They systematically summarized how the key structural units of the genome organization—A/B compartments, topologically associating domains (TADs), and chromatin loops—are altered during tumorigenesis.
The team also highlighted recent advances in technologies that enable precise analysis of 3D genome architecture, including Hi-C, HiChIP, and single-cell genomics approaches, and discussed precision medicine-based therapeutic strategies built upon these technologies.
Collapse and rewiring of 3D genome architecture during cancer development and progression
Notably, the researchers emphasized the plasticity of 3D genome architecture—the concept that genome organization is dynamic rather than fixed. Building on this concept, they proposed next-generation therapeutic approaches aimed at restoring disrupted structural boundaries or modulating phase separation, a rapidly emerging topic in genome biology. Unlike conventional therapies that primarily target genes or proteins, these strategies highlight the possibility of directly targeting genome architecture itself as a novel therapeutic avenue.
The study was published in June 2026 in the international journal Experimental & Molecular Medicine (IF 17.5, JCR top 2.9%). The first author, Dr. Sunyoung Jang, earned both her master’s and doctoral degrees at Sookmyung Women’s University under supervision of Professor Yoo after graduating from the university’s Division of Biological Sciences. ■ View the paper ↗
In recognition of its academic significance and potential impact, the research was also featured in BRIC's "Hanbitsa" (People Who Brighten Korea), a platform that highlights outstanding research achievements by Korean scientists published in leading international journals. ■ Link ↗
"Cancer can arise not only from alterations in DNA sequences but also from changes in the spatial structure of the genome," Dr. Jang said. " A deeper understanding of 3D genome architecture will not only provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying cancer development but also lay the foundation for patient-tailored precision medicine and next-generation cancer therapeutics."