In the intricate dance of cancer progression, metal ions such as iron, copper, zinc, and selenium take center stage, not merely as bystanders but as pivotal actors influencing both the tumor microenvironment and the broader immune landscape. Iron, for instance, when overaccumulated, acts as a double-edged sword, promoting tumor growth and aggressiveness through enhanced cellular proliferation and angiogenesis. Conversely, the dysregulation in copper and zinc metabolism is intricately linked to the suppression of immune cell functionality, thereby facilitating an immune evasion pathway for cancer cells. Selenium's role, though less understood, hints at modulating oxidative stress responses, potentially influencing both cancer and immune cells. These shifts in metal ion metabolism are not isolated events but are deeply intertwined with the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells, suggesting that metal ions could serve as both biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer. Understanding these complex interactions requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating insights from molecular biology, biochemistry, and immunology, to unravel how metal ion dysregulation contributes to cancer's ability to thrive and evade immune detection.
The aim of this Research Topic is to explore the dual role of metal ion metabolism in cancer development and immune regulation, shedding light on how alterations in metal ion homeostasis can influence cancer progression and immune response. By focusing on the intricate relationships between metal ions, cancer cells, and the immune system, this topic seeks to uncover novel therapeutic targets and intervention strategies. Through a collection of research spanning molecular mechanisms to clinical applications, this forum intends to advance our understanding of tumor metabolic heterogeneity and immune evasion, ultimately contributing to the development of more effective cancer treatments.
Possible subthemes within this Research Topic can include, but are not limited to:
1) The relationship between metal ion metabolic pathways and tumor proliferation, survival and metastasis: to explore the mechanism of metal ions such as iron, copper and zinc in the metabolism of tumor cells.
2) Functional changes of immune cells under the influence of metal ions: to study how metal ions affect the immune response by regulating the function of immune cells (e.g. T cells, dendritic cells, etc.).
3) Dynamic changes of metal ions in the tumor microenvironment and their bioinformatics analysis: to analyze the changes of metal ions in the tumor microenvironment and their effects on tumor growth by using metabolomics, proteomics and other technologies, combined with bioinformatics methods.
4) Metal ion metabolic pathways as cancer therapeutic targets: to explore potential therapeutic strategies to intervene in metal ion metabolic pathways, including but not limited to drug development, gene editing technology, etc.
5) Application of bioinformatics tools in metal ion research: to introduce and evaluate bioinformatics tools and methods for analyzing data related to metal ion metabolism.
6) Metal ion metabolism and immune escape mechanisms: to study how metal ions promote immune escape by affecting the interaction between tumor cells and immune cells.
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.
Keywords:
Metal Ion Metabolism, tumor microenvironment, Tumor Regulation, Tumor Development
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.
In the intricate dance of cancer progression, metal ions such as iron, copper, zinc, and selenium take center stage, not merely as bystanders but as pivotal actors influencing both the tumor microenvironment and the broader immune landscape. Iron, for instance, when overaccumulated, acts as a double-edged sword, promoting tumor growth and aggressiveness through enhanced cellular proliferation and angiogenesis. Conversely, the dysregulation in copper and zinc metabolism is intricately linked to the suppression of immune cell functionality, thereby facilitating an immune evasion pathway for cancer cells. Selenium's role, though less understood, hints at modulating oxidative stress responses, potentially influencing both cancer and immune cells. These shifts in metal ion metabolism are not isolated events but are deeply intertwined with the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells, suggesting that metal ions could serve as both biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer. Understanding these complex interactions requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating insights from molecular biology, biochemistry, and immunology, to unravel how metal ion dysregulation contributes to cancer's ability to thrive and evade immune detection.
The aim of this Research Topic is to explore the dual role of metal ion metabolism in cancer development and immune regulation, shedding light on how alterations in metal ion homeostasis can influence cancer progression and immune response. By focusing on the intricate relationships between metal ions, cancer cells, and the immune system, this topic seeks to uncover novel therapeutic targets and intervention strategies. Through a collection of research spanning molecular mechanisms to clinical applications, this forum intends to advance our understanding of tumor metabolic heterogeneity and immune evasion, ultimately contributing to the development of more effective cancer treatments.
Possible subthemes within this Research Topic can include, but are not limited to:
1) The relationship between metal ion metabolic pathways and tumor proliferation, survival and metastasis: to explore the mechanism of metal ions such as iron, copper and zinc in the metabolism of tumor cells.
2) Functional changes of immune cells under the influence of metal ions: to study how metal ions affect the immune response by regulating the function of immune cells (e.g. T cells, dendritic cells, etc.).
3) Dynamic changes of metal ions in the tumor microenvironment and their bioinformatics analysis: to analyze the changes of metal ions in the tumor microenvironment and their effects on tumor growth by using metabolomics, proteomics and other technologies, combined with bioinformatics methods.
4) Metal ion metabolic pathways as cancer therapeutic targets: to explore potential therapeutic strategies to intervene in metal ion metabolic pathways, including but not limited to drug development, gene editing technology, etc.
5) Application of bioinformatics tools in metal ion research: to introduce and evaluate bioinformatics tools and methods for analyzing data related to metal ion metabolism.
6) Metal ion metabolism and immune escape mechanisms: to study how metal ions promote immune escape by affecting the interaction between tumor cells and immune cells.
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.
Keywords:
Metal Ion Metabolism, tumor microenvironment, Tumor Regulation, Tumor Development
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.