Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are extra-nodal structures that are formed in-situ in non-lymphoid tissues and support the generation of immune responses outside of the secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs). TLSs have been shown to have prognostic value and their generation in cancer tissues is a strong predictive biomarker of therapeutic outcomes. In fact, there have been suggestions for a need for an active induction of TLSs in the tumor tissue for enhancement of anti-cancer immunotherapeutic outcomes. Hence, a thorough understanding of the processes involved in their generation and various factors that control the immune responses generated in TLSs would be of immense value for their clinical applications especially in cancer settings. Over the years a significant amount of information regarding the molecular and cellular processes that regulate the generation of TLSs and the activation and differentiation of immune cells within TLSs has been generated. In this issue, our intent is to comprehensively reconcile the available information in context of the basic biology of TLSs, the biological requirements for their generation, the physiological characteristics that affect the cellular composition and cell activation profiles, and most importantly the generation of artificially engineered tertiary lymphoid organoïds (enTLOs) and their translational use to enhance the cancer therapies.
The role of TLSs in modulating the therapeutic outcomes in various cancers has started to be appreciated. Yet a comprehensive understanding of the molecular and cellular signals that determine the structural and functional characteristics of these organoids, which is critical for their therapeutic applications, is lacking. In wake of this, the present issue has been planned to enhance our understanding of the basic biological processes involved in the TLS generation and to establish the anti-cancer translational aspects of TLSs. Hence, this issue would help to open new therapeutic avenues using TLSs that remains underexplored.
In this Research Topic, we welcome Review, Mini-Review, and Original Research articles reporting recent efforts in the following specific topics to be covered:
1) Factors affecting the generation and organization of TLSs: The cellular, genetic and molecular cues.
2) TLSs as centers for generation of cell mediated and antibody mediated immune responses.
3) Effect of structural organization of TLSs on cell movement and activation.
4) TLSs as a predictive biomarker of response to cancer therapies : value,assessment and modulation by anti-cancer therapies.
5) TLSs and their potential contribution in cancer therapy : potentials in immune low tumors and current challenges . Use of predictive models and artificial intelligence in design and refinement of TLSs for therapeutic applications.
6) Engineered TLOs (enTLOs) and their anti-cancer applications: Past, Present and Future.
7) Characteristics of enTLOs affecting the clinical outcomes: Role of biomaterials, cellular and molecular signals, site of enTLO placement and time of treatment.
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are extra-nodal structures that are formed in-situ in non-lymphoid tissues and support the generation of immune responses outside of the secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs). TLSs have been shown to have prognostic value and their generation in cancer tissues is a strong predictive biomarker of therapeutic outcomes. In fact, there have been suggestions for a need for an active induction of TLSs in the tumor tissue for enhancement of anti-cancer immunotherapeutic outcomes. Hence, a thorough understanding of the processes involved in their generation and various factors that control the immune responses generated in TLSs would be of immense value for their clinical applications especially in cancer settings. Over the years a significant amount of information regarding the molecular and cellular processes that regulate the generation of TLSs and the activation and differentiation of immune cells within TLSs has been generated. In this issue, our intent is to comprehensively reconcile the available information in context of the basic biology of TLSs, the biological requirements for their generation, the physiological characteristics that affect the cellular composition and cell activation profiles, and most importantly the generation of artificially engineered tertiary lymphoid organoïds (enTLOs) and their translational use to enhance the cancer therapies.
The role of TLSs in modulating the therapeutic outcomes in various cancers has started to be appreciated. Yet a comprehensive understanding of the molecular and cellular signals that determine the structural and functional characteristics of these organoids, which is critical for their therapeutic applications, is lacking. In wake of this, the present issue has been planned to enhance our understanding of the basic biological processes involved in the TLS generation and to establish the anti-cancer translational aspects of TLSs. Hence, this issue would help to open new therapeutic avenues using TLSs that remains underexplored.
In this Research Topic, we welcome Review, Mini-Review, and Original Research articles reporting recent efforts in the following specific topics to be covered:
1) Factors affecting the generation and organization of TLSs: The cellular, genetic and molecular cues.
2) TLSs as centers for generation of cell mediated and antibody mediated immune responses.
3) Effect of structural organization of TLSs on cell movement and activation.
4) TLSs as a predictive biomarker of response to cancer therapies : value,assessment and modulation by anti-cancer therapies.
5) TLSs and their potential contribution in cancer therapy : potentials in immune low tumors and current challenges . Use of predictive models and artificial intelligence in design and refinement of TLSs for therapeutic applications.
6) Engineered TLOs (enTLOs) and their anti-cancer applications: Past, Present and Future.
7) Characteristics of enTLOs affecting the clinical outcomes: Role of biomaterials, cellular and molecular signals, site of enTLO placement and time of treatment.