The traditional concept of immune cells attacking cancer cells has been a cornerstone of research in immune oncology, as extensively documented in the literature. For instance, a wealth of published materials elucidate how activated immune cells launch an assault on cancer cells. However, despite this well-established knowledge, the puzzle of how cancer cells manage to deceive immune cells remains largely unsolved. Do immune and cancer cells engage in a battle of wits from close quarters or a distance? How do they negotiate a compromise that allows the host to survive? These are not just academic questions, but ones that have profound implications for our understanding of cancer and the development of new treatments.

Recent studies revealed that a candidate tumor suppressor WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) is reported to control cell-to-cell recognition, communication, migration, and even attacking each other from a remote distance. WWOX dysfunctional or deficient (WWOXd) cells tend to undergo retrograde migration upon facing upcoming WWOX functional (WWOXf) cells. WWOXf cells enforce the retrograde migration of WWOXd cells. Yet, WWOXd cells initiate the attack of WWOXf from a long distance. Functional deficiency of WWOX in immune cells leads to generation of a defective immune system. Conceivably, WWOXd immune cells can compromise readily with WWOXd metastatic cancer cells.

In this research topic, we welcome novel ideas and technologies dealing with the interactions among immune cells, cancer cells and host cells. Mathematical models of your developed systems are also welcome. We welcome your articles not exclusively limited to WWOX but new molecules which may solve the problems regarding immune/cancer cells interactions, which may facilitate immunotherapy:

• Technology in managing immune/cancer cell interaction at a single cell level with defined diversity in the cells.
• Genetic and epigenetic approaches to provide new concept in cancer/immune/host cell interactions and novel therapeutic approaches.
• Establish mathematical or physical models to facilitate the prediction of cell behavior based upon their phenotypes or migration dynamics.

Please 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.

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Immune-Cancer Cell Interaction

Topic Coordinator