The human genome encodes more than 60 cytokines that mediate cell-to-cell communications under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Scientific advances made in the past decades have revealed pivotal roles of specific cytokines in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses to cancer, with some molecules demonstrating clear anti-tumor or pro-tumor effects and others displaying dual effects. Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18 are examples of anti-tumor cytokines that have been investigated as anti-tumor immunotherapies. Similarly, pro-tumor cytokines and chemokines (e.g., IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, CXCL1-3, CXCL5-8 and CCL2), growth factors (e.g., G-CSF and GM-CSF) as well as their cognate receptors have been explored as therapeutic targets.
However, many cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-17 family members exhibit both pro-tumor and anti-tumor effects, which warrant additional studies to scrutinize intricate cellular communications among different immune cells and/or between immune and non-immune cells (stromal and tumor cells) within the tumor microenvironment.
In this Research Topic, we would like to collect Review, Mini-Review and Original Research articles on the following topics:
• To summarize recent update of cytokine and cytokine-receptor-based cancer immunotherapy in pre-clinical animal models and clinical studies
• To discuss challenges and barriers in cytokine and cytokine-based cancer immunotherapy
• To illustrate the role of innate and adaptive immune cells as well as stromal cells in the success or the failure of cytokine and cytokine receptor-based cancer immunotherapy
• To present compelling evidence and sound argument in resolving controversies related to the dual-effects of cytokines and cytokine receptors in cancer development
• To provide novel insights into future design of cytokine and cytokine receptor-based cancer immunotherapy
Dr. Berraondo receives research funding from Sanofi, Ferring, Moderna, Hookipa, and Bavarian Nordic. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic theme.
The human genome encodes more than 60 cytokines that mediate cell-to-cell communications under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Scientific advances made in the past decades have revealed pivotal roles of specific cytokines in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses to cancer, with some molecules demonstrating clear anti-tumor or pro-tumor effects and others displaying dual effects. Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18 are examples of anti-tumor cytokines that have been investigated as anti-tumor immunotherapies. Similarly, pro-tumor cytokines and chemokines (e.g., IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, CXCL1-3, CXCL5-8 and CCL2), growth factors (e.g., G-CSF and GM-CSF) as well as their cognate receptors have been explored as therapeutic targets.
However, many cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-17 family members exhibit both pro-tumor and anti-tumor effects, which warrant additional studies to scrutinize intricate cellular communications among different immune cells and/or between immune and non-immune cells (stromal and tumor cells) within the tumor microenvironment.
In this Research Topic, we would like to collect Review, Mini-Review and Original Research articles on the following topics:
• To summarize recent update of cytokine and cytokine-receptor-based cancer immunotherapy in pre-clinical animal models and clinical studies
• To discuss challenges and barriers in cytokine and cytokine-based cancer immunotherapy
• To illustrate the role of innate and adaptive immune cells as well as stromal cells in the success or the failure of cytokine and cytokine receptor-based cancer immunotherapy
• To present compelling evidence and sound argument in resolving controversies related to the dual-effects of cytokines and cytokine receptors in cancer development
• To provide novel insights into future design of cytokine and cytokine receptor-based cancer immunotherapy
Dr. Berraondo receives research funding from Sanofi, Ferring, Moderna, Hookipa, and Bavarian Nordic. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic theme.