The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex milieu on which tumor cells depend for survival. In addition to the extracellular matrix and various cytokines, TME is also composed of many stromal cells, participating in all aspects of gastrointestinal (GI) and head and neck carcinogenesis including tumor growth, metastasis, drug resistance and immune escape. Characterized by hypoxia, low pH and high pressure, TME not only determines tumor development at the genetic or epigenetic level, but also regulates the surrounding environment to promote the progression of GI cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Therefore, targeting TME has become a new and efficient strategy for the treatment of GI cancer and HNSCC in recent years.
The precision therapy of GI cancer and HNSCC is based on the analysis of each patient's genetic basis and related biomarkers, such as how to better combine microenvironmental therapy with conventional immunotherapy. Thus, it is very necessary to select appropriate treatment based on biomarkers of GI cancer and HNSCC, which is one important goal of precision therapy to improve the therapeutic effect. Moreover, a striking finding from the recent deep sequencing of genomic landscape, was that the remarkable multiplicity and diversity of genetic alterations in these malignancies. Therefore, the identification and development of cancer biomarkers and new targets are essential for precision oncology by targeting TME. In addition, reshaping rather than eliminating TME will be a potential treatment strategy for GI cancer and HNSCC, which is worthy of further exploration.
On the other hand, GI cancer and HNSCC may deploy multiple mechanisms to avoid immune recognition and subsequent anti-tumor immune response. Recent revolutionary therapeutic strategies restoring T-cell mediated anti-tumor immunity in GI cancer and HNSCC demonstrated immune modulation and durable remissions, by targeting immune checkpoints. Additionally, animal models with a full functioning immune system can recapitulate the complexity of TME accurately.
This Research Topic aims at presenting recent advances on the role of TME in the progression of GI cancer and HNSCC, the development of precision therapy based on comprehensive assessment of TME as a dynamic spatiotemporal process, and the establishment of biomarkers for therapy response prediction to maximize patient benefits from an immunotherapy or targeted therapy for GI cancer and HNSCC.
We welcome submissions of Original Research articles, Clinical Trial and Review covering, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Selection strategies, such as genome and transcriptome sequencing of TME, of patients with GI cancer and HNSCC for the highest chance of benefiting from precision therapy
• Large prospective trials to validate reliable predictive biomarkers for GI cancer and HNSCC
• Characterization of GI cancer and HNSCC with different stages by distinct molecular and TME changes
• Role of TME in the immune escape, and effect of stress within the TME such as hypoxia, low pH, and inflammation on the progression of GI cancer and HNSCC
• Investigation of tumor and TME heterogeneity via organoids and PDX models, and screening druggable targets with translational research for GI cancer and HNSCC
• Relationship between remodeling of the TME by microbiome and the progression of GI cancer
• Role of GI microbiome in the prediction of precision therapy and prognosis for patients with GI cancer
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex milieu on which tumor cells depend for survival. In addition to the extracellular matrix and various cytokines, TME is also composed of many stromal cells, participating in all aspects of gastrointestinal (GI) and head and neck carcinogenesis including tumor growth, metastasis, drug resistance and immune escape. Characterized by hypoxia, low pH and high pressure, TME not only determines tumor development at the genetic or epigenetic level, but also regulates the surrounding environment to promote the progression of GI cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Therefore, targeting TME has become a new and efficient strategy for the treatment of GI cancer and HNSCC in recent years.
The precision therapy of GI cancer and HNSCC is based on the analysis of each patient's genetic basis and related biomarkers, such as how to better combine microenvironmental therapy with conventional immunotherapy. Thus, it is very necessary to select appropriate treatment based on biomarkers of GI cancer and HNSCC, which is one important goal of precision therapy to improve the therapeutic effect. Moreover, a striking finding from the recent deep sequencing of genomic landscape, was that the remarkable multiplicity and diversity of genetic alterations in these malignancies. Therefore, the identification and development of cancer biomarkers and new targets are essential for precision oncology by targeting TME. In addition, reshaping rather than eliminating TME will be a potential treatment strategy for GI cancer and HNSCC, which is worthy of further exploration.
On the other hand, GI cancer and HNSCC may deploy multiple mechanisms to avoid immune recognition and subsequent anti-tumor immune response. Recent revolutionary therapeutic strategies restoring T-cell mediated anti-tumor immunity in GI cancer and HNSCC demonstrated immune modulation and durable remissions, by targeting immune checkpoints. Additionally, animal models with a full functioning immune system can recapitulate the complexity of TME accurately.
This Research Topic aims at presenting recent advances on the role of TME in the progression of GI cancer and HNSCC, the development of precision therapy based on comprehensive assessment of TME as a dynamic spatiotemporal process, and the establishment of biomarkers for therapy response prediction to maximize patient benefits from an immunotherapy or targeted therapy for GI cancer and HNSCC.
We welcome submissions of Original Research articles, Clinical Trial and Review covering, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Selection strategies, such as genome and transcriptome sequencing of TME, of patients with GI cancer and HNSCC for the highest chance of benefiting from precision therapy
• Large prospective trials to validate reliable predictive biomarkers for GI cancer and HNSCC
• Characterization of GI cancer and HNSCC with different stages by distinct molecular and TME changes
• Role of TME in the immune escape, and effect of stress within the TME such as hypoxia, low pH, and inflammation on the progression of GI cancer and HNSCC
• Investigation of tumor and TME heterogeneity via organoids and PDX models, and screening druggable targets with translational research for GI cancer and HNSCC
• Relationship between remodeling of the TME by microbiome and the progression of GI cancer
• Role of GI microbiome in the prediction of precision therapy and prognosis for patients with GI cancer
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
