About this Research Topic
This Research Topic is part of a series:
-Volume II
-Volume III
Tumor cells reside in an acidic, hypoxic, immunosuppressive, and nutrition-deficient environment, the so-called tumor microenvironment (TME), which induces the reprogramming of metabolism and signaling to support the uncontrolled proliferation of tumor cells. The TME is a complex featuring of blood and lymphatic vessels, stromal cells, immune cells, and extracellular matrix (cytokines, chemokines, collagen, proteoglycans, et al.). The dynamic and reciprocal communication between cancer cells and TME contributes to tumor survival, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, drug resistance, and immune evasion. For example, tumor cells exploit glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways to support energy production and macromolecule biosynthesis. Cytotoxic lymphocytes express PD-1 or CTLA-4 that inhibits T cell activity to assist tumor progression. With a comprehensive understanding of the role of TME in tumor development, it provides the possibility of novel therapeutic strategies targeting TME for cancer treatment.
This Research Topic focuses on the contributions of TME to cancer progression and the therapeutic potential of druggable TME targets in cancer treatment, in particular the underlying molecular mechanisms. For example, how does the metabolic reprogramming of TME components assist tumor progression and what are the underlying molecular mechanisms? Are there any potential molecules as druggable targets in TME?
The Research Topic will cover, but is not limited to, the following:
• Metabolic reprogramming in the TME during tumor progression.
• The biology, recruitment, and activation of immune cells or stromal cells in the TME during tumor progression.
• How the cross-talk between TME components and tumor cells contributes to tumor progression.
• Novel strategies for turning immune ‘cold’ tumors into immune ‘hot’ tumors.
• Potential predictive markers and therapeutical targets in the TME.
-Volume II
-Volume III
Tumor cells reside in an acidic, hypoxic, immunosuppressive, and nutrition-deficient environment, the so-called tumor microenvironment (TME), which induces the reprogramming of metabolism and signaling to support the uncontrolled proliferation of tumor cells. The TME is a complex featuring of blood and lymphatic vessels, stromal cells, immune cells, and extracellular matrix (cytokines, chemokines, collagen, proteoglycans, et al.). The dynamic and reciprocal communication between cancer cells and TME contributes to tumor survival, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, drug resistance, and immune evasion. For example, tumor cells exploit glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways to support energy production and macromolecule biosynthesis. Cytotoxic lymphocytes express PD-1 or CTLA-4 that inhibits T cell activity to assist tumor progression. With a comprehensive understanding of the role of TME in tumor development, it provides the possibility of novel therapeutic strategies targeting TME for cancer treatment.
This Research Topic focuses on the contributions of TME to cancer progression and the therapeutic potential of druggable TME targets in cancer treatment, in particular the underlying molecular mechanisms. For example, how does the metabolic reprogramming of TME components assist tumor progression and what are the underlying molecular mechanisms? Are there any potential molecules as druggable targets in TME?
The Research Topic will cover, but is not limited to, the following:
• Metabolic reprogramming in the TME during tumor progression.
• The biology, recruitment, and activation of immune cells or stromal cells in the TME during tumor progression.
• How the cross-talk between TME components and tumor cells contributes to tumor progression.
• Novel strategies for turning immune ‘cold’ tumors into immune ‘hot’ tumors.
• Potential predictive markers and therapeutical targets in the TME.
Keywords: tumor microenvironment, metabolic reprogramming, immunotherapy
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
