Cellular Crosstalk and Signaling in Physiological and Pathological Development

Cellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME) play a pivotal role in cancer progression, influencing both the physiological and pathological development of tissues. The TME comprises not only cancer cells but also a host of non-malignant cells, such as fibroblasts, adipocytes, immune cells, angiogenic vascular cells, stromal cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts. These cells undergo significant morphological and functional changes during tumor development, facilitated by the complex intercellular communication between cellular and non-cellular components of the TME. This communication activates numerous signaling pathways that regulate various biological processes, including cell survival and differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, migration, metastasis, and stress responses, ultimately disrupting cellular and tissue homeostasis and contributing to pathological conditions and cancer development.

This Research Topic aims to explore the intricate network of cellular crosstalk within the TME and its effects on cancer and other pathologies, as well as normal physiological processes like organ development, tissue maintenance, and regeneration. It seeks to understand how intercellular signaling contributes to pathological conditions and the potential therapeutic strategies that could target these interactions.

To gather further insights into these complex biological interactions, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Cell populations of the TME

o Extracellular matrix in the TME, tissue homeostasis, and organ development

o TME and resistance to therapy

o Cellular crosstalk in the TME, tissue homeostasis, and organ development

o The immune system in the TME

o Tissue inflammation, injury, and the immunosuppressive environment

We are pleased to include original data articles, reviews, and perspective pieces that contribute to understanding the dynamic interactions within tumoral niches and between tumoral, non-tumoral, and immune cells in both pathological and physiological contexts.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: TME, cellular crosstalk, signaling pathway, tumor microenvironment, cancer progression, intercellular communication, tissue homeostasis, extracellular matrix, therapeutic strategies for cancer, stromal cells, organ development, tissue inflammation

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.