About this Research Topic
Primary brain tumors are most commonly detected in the late stages of the disease and there are only a few treatment opportunities. Overall survival rates are significantly low and the response to chemo/radiotherapy is not sufficient, despite surgical intervention, which is also circumstantial. The tumor microenvironment (TME) regulates several brain tumor hallmarks, such as cell migration, invasiveness, proliferation, therapy resistance, stemness maintenance, immune evasion, among others. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the pro-tumoral mechanisms that are regulated by the TME in order to detect and identify new biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.
The interaction between brain tumors and the surrounding microenvironment is dependent on cellular components such as cancer cells, stem-like cells, different types of glia, immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and pericytes; and non-cellular components such as the extracellular matrix, soluble factors and hypoxia, specifically in high grade gliomas. There are also soluble factors that are aberrantly secreted into the extracellular environment of brain tumors such as TGFs, adenosine, endothelin, VEGFs etc. as well as intracellular factors that are altered by the microenvironment, such as HIFs.
The aim of this Research Topic is to generate a discussion regarding the most recent advances in the interaction of the TME with primary brain tumors. The understanding of the key aspects in the interaction of the TME with cancer cells is important in the search for new markers to improve early detection, survival prognostic and therapy prediction. Further research regarding the relationship between primary brain cancer cells and one (or more) components of TME will also be considered for the Research Topic. We welcome studies based on pediatric and adult brain tumors, in vitro studies containing at least primary cultures or biopsies, in vivo studies in animal models and/or clinical and pre-clinical studies. This topic will not accept any papers relating to brain metastases from primary tumors elsewhere in the body.
Please note that all papers concerning TME in Brain Metastases should be submitted to the current Research Topic: The Tumor Microenvironment in the Progression of Brain Metastasis.
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 interaction between brain tumors and the surrounding microenvironment is dependent on cellular components such as cancer cells, stem-like cells, different types of glia, immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and pericytes; and non-cellular components such as the extracellular matrix, soluble factors and hypoxia, specifically in high grade gliomas. There are also soluble factors that are aberrantly secreted into the extracellular environment of brain tumors such as TGFs, adenosine, endothelin, VEGFs etc. as well as intracellular factors that are altered by the microenvironment, such as HIFs.
The aim of this Research Topic is to generate a discussion regarding the most recent advances in the interaction of the TME with primary brain tumors. The understanding of the key aspects in the interaction of the TME with cancer cells is important in the search for new markers to improve early detection, survival prognostic and therapy prediction. Further research regarding the relationship between primary brain cancer cells and one (or more) components of TME will also be considered for the Research Topic. We welcome studies based on pediatric and adult brain tumors, in vitro studies containing at least primary cultures or biopsies, in vivo studies in animal models and/or clinical and pre-clinical studies. This topic will not accept any papers relating to brain metastases from primary tumors elsewhere in the body.
Please note that all papers concerning TME in Brain Metastases should be submitted to the current Research Topic: The Tumor Microenvironment in the Progression of Brain Metastasis.
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.
Keywords: brain cancer, extracellular matrix, hypoxia, tumor microenvironment, glioma
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.
