The tumor microenvironment is the heterogeneous collection of stromal cells, immune cells, signaling factors, blood vessels, and extracellular matrix that surrounds and infiltrates a tumor. It constantly evolves according to the tumor stimuli and it is involved in cancer progression, heterogeneity, and clonal evolution.
Among the immune population present in the tumor microenvironment, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are one of the most abundant and they have been frequently associated with poor prognosis. The interplay between tumor, tumor microenvironment and TAMs is complex and not fully understood. It is known that signaling molecules present in the microenvironment have a central role in the TAMs polarization into the M2 subtype. M2 macrophages lack cytotoxic activity and secrete growth factors that stimulate tumor cell proliferation, migrations, and angiogenesis as well as immunosuppressive molecules which contribute to tumor immune evasion.
This Research Topic aims to provide insights on the underlying mechanisms involved in TAMs and microenvironment interplay and on the role of TAMs in tumor progression.
We welcome Original Research articles and Reviews articles focusing on but not limited to:
- TAMs interactions with microenvironment components to promote tumor progression and immune evasion
- Molecular mechanisms of TAMs origin, polarization, and reprogramming.
- Identification of novel subsets of TAMs and their role in tumor progression
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 is the heterogeneous collection of stromal cells, immune cells, signaling factors, blood vessels, and extracellular matrix that surrounds and infiltrates a tumor. It constantly evolves according to the tumor stimuli and it is involved in cancer progression, heterogeneity, and clonal evolution.
Among the immune population present in the tumor microenvironment, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are one of the most abundant and they have been frequently associated with poor prognosis. The interplay between tumor, tumor microenvironment and TAMs is complex and not fully understood. It is known that signaling molecules present in the microenvironment have a central role in the TAMs polarization into the M2 subtype. M2 macrophages lack cytotoxic activity and secrete growth factors that stimulate tumor cell proliferation, migrations, and angiogenesis as well as immunosuppressive molecules which contribute to tumor immune evasion.
This Research Topic aims to provide insights on the underlying mechanisms involved in TAMs and microenvironment interplay and on the role of TAMs in tumor progression.
We welcome Original Research articles and Reviews articles focusing on but not limited to:
- TAMs interactions with microenvironment components to promote tumor progression and immune evasion
- Molecular mechanisms of TAMs origin, polarization, and reprogramming.
- Identification of novel subsets of TAMs and their role in tumor progression
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.
