The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a highly dynamic ecosystem containing cancer cells surrounded by various non-malignant cell types embedded in an altered extracellular matrix. Non-malignant cells are closely involved in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of cancers and influence the prognosis of clinical therapeutics, especially immunotherapy. For example, the immune system shifts the balance from immune attack to immune evasion to trigger cancer initiation, and cancer-associated inflammatory response further facilitates its progression. The cancer-associated fibroblasts in the TME, which are derived from multiple origins, show plasticity to participate in extracellular matrix alteration, inflammatory response, and partially antigen presentation. The vascular cells contribute to cancer progression via angiogenesis and regulate the infiltration of immune cells. Therefore, the characterization of non-malignant cell phenotypes and behaviors can contribute to the knowledge of the heterogeneity of TME and help develop personalized therapy for cancer.
The aim of the Research Topic is to focus on the characterization of subsets of non-malignant cells and the clear elucidation of their function in the cancer immune microenvironment.
We welcome submissions of Original Research, Reviews, focusing on cutting-edge research on non-malignant cells. Subtopics include, but are not limited to:
- The characterization and function of innate and adaptive immune cells.
- The characterization and immunoregulatory role of cancer-associated fibroblasts.
- The characterization of vascular cells and their regulatory mechanisms for the infiltration of immune cells.
- The alteration of extracellular matrices and its impact on immune cells.
- The effect of experimental therapeutics targeting non-malignant cells.
Note that 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 research topic.
Keywords: Non-malignant Cell, Cancer Immune Microenvironment, vascular cell, cancer-associated fibroblast, adaptive immune cell, innate immune cell, extracellular matrices
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.
