About this Research Topic
Recent data suggests a concerning rise in cancer prevalence among aging populations, particularly those with chronic inflammatory diseases like tuberculosis or hepatitis B virus (HBV), who are often excluded from clinical trials for new therapies. Aging and chronic inflammation induce a shift from oxidative phosphorylation to increased aerobic glycolysis in various tissues, altering immune cell function and cancer immunity. This metabolic reprogramming leads to a competitive nutrient environment and an increase in immunosuppressive metabolites such as kynurenine and adenosine, which cancer cells exploit to suppress immune surveillance and enhance tumor growth.
To address these challenges, a deeper understanding of the interplay between metabolism and immunity is crucial for developing effective cancer immunotherapies tailored for older adults and patients with chronic conditions. Research into these metabolic pathways could reveal novel targets for enhancing the efficacy of treatments like checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapies. By potentially implementing metabolic inhibitors or diet-based interventions, we can improve the immunogenicity of the tumor microenvironment, making it more responsive to immunotherapy. This approach aims to tailor treatments to the unique needs of an aging demographic, overcoming the hurdles posed by chronic inflammation and metabolic changes in cancer patients.
This Research Topic aims to investigate the interactions between metabolic shifts, aging, and chronic inflammation as they impact cancer immunology and therapy efficacy. It seeks to identify metabolic mechanisms and novel intervention strategies that enhance immunotherapy outcomes, especially for older adults and individuals with chronic inflammatory diseases, paving the way for tailored therapeutic advancements in oncology.
For this Research Topic, exploring the complex interplay between metabolic alterations, aging, chronic inflammation, and their effects on cancer immunity and immunotherapy, we invite contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following specific themes:
1. Investigate how aging and chronic inflammation drive metabolic reprogramming in immune cells and cancer cells.
2. Focus on how specific metabolic changes compromise immune surveillance and effector functions, particularly in aged and inflamed environments.
3. Examine key metabolites that either promote or inhibit immune responses within the tumor microenvironment, including their mechanisms of action.
4. Analyze how age-related and inflammation-driven metabolic changes affect the efficacy of current immunotherapeutic strategies, such as checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapies.
5. Identify and validate new metabolic enzymes or pathways that could be targeted to enhance immunotherapy.
6. Explore intervention strategies, including pharmacological agents and dietary modifications, that can restore immune function or counteract negative metabolic influences.
7. Develop and evaluate novel drug delivery systems that enhance the delivery and efficacy of metabolic modulators in immunotherapy.
8. Develop tailored immunotherapeutic strategies that consider individual metabolic and immunological profiles, particularly in elderly patients.
9. Encourage submissions detailing the outcomes of clinical trials that incorporate metabolic modulation to improve response rates in cancer immunotherapy.
To address these challenges, a deeper understanding of the interplay between metabolism and immunity is crucial for developing effective cancer immunotherapies tailored for older adults and patients with chronic conditions. Research into these metabolic pathways could reveal novel targets for enhancing the efficacy of treatments like checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapies. By potentially implementing metabolic inhibitors or diet-based interventions, we can improve the immunogenicity of the tumor microenvironment, making it more responsive to immunotherapy. This approach aims to tailor treatments to the unique needs of an aging demographic, overcoming the hurdles posed by chronic inflammation and metabolic changes in cancer patients.
This Research Topic aims to investigate the interactions between metabolic shifts, aging, and chronic inflammation as they impact cancer immunology and therapy efficacy. It seeks to identify metabolic mechanisms and novel intervention strategies that enhance immunotherapy outcomes, especially for older adults and individuals with chronic inflammatory diseases, paving the way for tailored therapeutic advancements in oncology.
For this Research Topic, exploring the complex interplay between metabolic alterations, aging, chronic inflammation, and their effects on cancer immunity and immunotherapy, we invite contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following specific themes:
1. Investigate how aging and chronic inflammation drive metabolic reprogramming in immune cells and cancer cells.
2. Focus on how specific metabolic changes compromise immune surveillance and effector functions, particularly in aged and inflamed environments.
3. Examine key metabolites that either promote or inhibit immune responses within the tumor microenvironment, including their mechanisms of action.
4. Analyze how age-related and inflammation-driven metabolic changes affect the efficacy of current immunotherapeutic strategies, such as checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapies.
5. Identify and validate new metabolic enzymes or pathways that could be targeted to enhance immunotherapy.
6. Explore intervention strategies, including pharmacological agents and dietary modifications, that can restore immune function or counteract negative metabolic influences.
7. Develop and evaluate novel drug delivery systems that enhance the delivery and efficacy of metabolic modulators in immunotherapy.
8. Develop tailored immunotherapeutic strategies that consider individual metabolic and immunological profiles, particularly in elderly patients.
9. Encourage submissions detailing the outcomes of clinical trials that incorporate metabolic modulation to improve response rates in cancer immunotherapy.
Keywords: aging, metabolic reprogramming, chronic inflammation, cancer immunotherapy
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.
