The cellular signaling network refers to the complex system formed by the interactions between various signaling molecules and receptors within and between cells. It consists of multiple signaling pathways that mediate intricate cellular interactions both internally and externally. The development of cancer is closely associated with the intricate signaling transduction network within cells, where multiple signaling pathways are interconnected and collectively regulate the biological phenotypes of tumor cells.
Currently, chemotherapy and immunotherapy are among the most used cancer treatment methods. However, drug resistance and tumor metastasis pose significant challenges in clinical practice. Several signaling pathways play vital roles in cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. However, the interconnectedness of these signaling networks makes it difficult to achieve optimal anti-tumor effects through targeted therapies directed at individual signaling molecules. Additionally, immunotherapy, an emerging treatment modality, aims to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells by activating the patient's own immune system. This process involves multiple signaling pathways, including immune checkpoint pathways such as PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4, as well as the activation of immune cells such as NK cells and tumor-associated macrophages. In recent years, immunotherapy has demonstrated promising anti-tumor effects in some solid tumors, while only a minority of patients receive the benefits.
Recent studies have unveiled several single signaling pathways that affect tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. However, these studies did not have translational potential due to the intricate signaling network within tumor cells. Therefore, a comprehensive and in-depth elucidation of the functional and regulatory mechanisms of the key signaling networks involved in tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance would facilitate the development of novel chemotherapy drugs and targeted therapies.
This Research Topic will focus on the recent advances in exploring the key signaling networks in cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy. We welcome Original Research, Mini Reviews, Perspectives, and Methods. Topics of this collection include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Mechanistic analysis of immune regulatory networks and key cancer-related signaling pathways.
2. The mechanisms of the key signaling pathways in cancer initiation, metastasis, and patient prognosis.
3. Crosstalk between the tumor microenvironment and the network of key signaling pathways in cancer.
4. Biomarkers for predicting response to tumor immunotherapy and chemotherapy drugs.
5. Elucidating the interplay between immunotherapy and key signaling networks
6. Novel materials targeting key signaling networks and their potential applications in cancer treatment.
7. Relationship between cancer genomics and key signaling networks, exploring the application of genomic information in personalized therapy.
Please NOTE: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this topic.
The cellular signaling network refers to the complex system formed by the interactions between various signaling molecules and receptors within and between cells. It consists of multiple signaling pathways that mediate intricate cellular interactions both internally and externally. The development of cancer is closely associated with the intricate signaling transduction network within cells, where multiple signaling pathways are interconnected and collectively regulate the biological phenotypes of tumor cells.
Currently, chemotherapy and immunotherapy are among the most used cancer treatment methods. However, drug resistance and tumor metastasis pose significant challenges in clinical practice. Several signaling pathways play vital roles in cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. However, the interconnectedness of these signaling networks makes it difficult to achieve optimal anti-tumor effects through targeted therapies directed at individual signaling molecules. Additionally, immunotherapy, an emerging treatment modality, aims to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells by activating the patient's own immune system. This process involves multiple signaling pathways, including immune checkpoint pathways such as PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4, as well as the activation of immune cells such as NK cells and tumor-associated macrophages. In recent years, immunotherapy has demonstrated promising anti-tumor effects in some solid tumors, while only a minority of patients receive the benefits.
Recent studies have unveiled several single signaling pathways that affect tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. However, these studies did not have translational potential due to the intricate signaling network within tumor cells. Therefore, a comprehensive and in-depth elucidation of the functional and regulatory mechanisms of the key signaling networks involved in tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance would facilitate the development of novel chemotherapy drugs and targeted therapies.
This Research Topic will focus on the recent advances in exploring the key signaling networks in cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy. We welcome Original Research, Mini Reviews, Perspectives, and Methods. Topics of this collection include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Mechanistic analysis of immune regulatory networks and key cancer-related signaling pathways.
2. The mechanisms of the key signaling pathways in cancer initiation, metastasis, and patient prognosis.
3. Crosstalk between the tumor microenvironment and the network of key signaling pathways in cancer.
4. Biomarkers for predicting response to tumor immunotherapy and chemotherapy drugs.
5. Elucidating the interplay between immunotherapy and key signaling networks
6. Novel materials targeting key signaling networks and their potential applications in cancer treatment.
7. Relationship between cancer genomics and key signaling networks, exploring the application of genomic information in personalized therapy.
Please NOTE: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this topic.