Increasing evidence shows that the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance of malignant disease. In addition to tumor cells, the components of TME also include immune cells, fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, extracellular vesicles, and microorganisms. It is acknowledged that TME affects cancer treatment efficacy, and in turn, TME is modulated by different therapeutic regimens. Earlier studies focused preferentially on the effect of TME on cancer therapeutic resistance, while underestimating the modulatory effect of these therapeutic strategies, such as small molecule inhibitors, endocrine therapy, radiation therapy, radio-frequency treatment, on TME, as well as its potential impact on converting “cold” tumors to “hot” tumors or skewing an immunosuppressive TME.
In recent decades, mounting new anti-tumor drugs have sprouted up, especially in the era of immunotherapy, with checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies. As such, it is reasonable to reassess these treatment methods and explore the impact of these drugs on TME, so as to help us raise new therapeutic strategies and achieve better results.
This Research Topic aims to highlight the modulatory effect of local or systemic treatment, such as targeted therapy, endocrine therapy, radiotherapy, surgical manipulation, and radio-frequency ablation, on TME. Studies illuminating the effect of dynamic changes of different cell types and extracellular networks (such as cytokines, extracellular vesicles, and microbiota) on TME are also welcome. We welcome the submission of Original Research (clinical, translational, or basic research), Mini Review and Review articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following aspects:
- Effects of systemic treatment (small molecular inhibitor, endocrine therapy, or immunotherapy) on TME
- Effects of local treatment (radiotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, etc.) on TME
- The relationship or modulatory effect between anti-cancer therapy and extracellular vesicles, cytokine network or microbiota in TME
Increasing evidence shows that the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance of malignant disease. In addition to tumor cells, the components of TME also include immune cells, fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, extracellular vesicles, and microorganisms. It is acknowledged that TME affects cancer treatment efficacy, and in turn, TME is modulated by different therapeutic regimens. Earlier studies focused preferentially on the effect of TME on cancer therapeutic resistance, while underestimating the modulatory effect of these therapeutic strategies, such as small molecule inhibitors, endocrine therapy, radiation therapy, radio-frequency treatment, on TME, as well as its potential impact on converting “cold” tumors to “hot” tumors or skewing an immunosuppressive TME.
In recent decades, mounting new anti-tumor drugs have sprouted up, especially in the era of immunotherapy, with checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies. As such, it is reasonable to reassess these treatment methods and explore the impact of these drugs on TME, so as to help us raise new therapeutic strategies and achieve better results.
This Research Topic aims to highlight the modulatory effect of local or systemic treatment, such as targeted therapy, endocrine therapy, radiotherapy, surgical manipulation, and radio-frequency ablation, on TME. Studies illuminating the effect of dynamic changes of different cell types and extracellular networks (such as cytokines, extracellular vesicles, and microbiota) on TME are also welcome. We welcome the submission of Original Research (clinical, translational, or basic research), Mini Review and Review articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following aspects:
- Effects of systemic treatment (small molecular inhibitor, endocrine therapy, or immunotherapy) on TME
- Effects of local treatment (radiotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, etc.) on TME
- The relationship or modulatory effect between anti-cancer therapy and extracellular vesicles, cytokine network or microbiota in TME
