This Research Topic is the second volume of the “Interaction of Cell Subtypes in Tumor Microenvironment and Implications for Immunotherapy” Community Series. Please see Volume I here.here.

The field of cancer immunotherapy has been revolutionized by the understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and its role in immune evasion by cancer cells. The TME is a complex network of interactions between tumor cells and various cellular subtypes, including immune and stromal cells, which can significantly influence the efficacy of immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Despite the promise of ICIs, their clinical success has been limited, benefiting only a small subset of patients. This limitation is largely attributed to the dynamic and multifaceted interactions within the TME that can hinder immune cell infiltration and activation. Recent advancements in single-cell technologies have shed light on the intricate and evolving nature of these interactions, revealing diverse subtypes of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) with distinct roles in the TME. However, there remains a critical need to refine our understanding of these cellular subtypes and develop personalized therapeutic strategies to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Current research is exploring combination therapies, targeting cytokines, and integrating nanotechnology with immunotherapy to overcome the immunosuppressive barriers of the TME.

This research topic aims to investigate the interactions among various cellular subpopulations within the TME and their implications for immunotherapy. The primary objective is to explore how these interactions can be modulated to improve the immunosuppressive state of the TME and enhance the efficacy of combination therapies. By examining the mechanisms of cellular crosstalk and the potential for personalized treatment strategies, this research seeks to address the challenges faced by current immunotherapeutic approaches and improve patient outcomes.

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

- Mechanisms of interaction among different cellular subpopulations (subtypes) in the TME.

- State-of-the-art methods for quantitative analysis of cellular subpopulations (subtypes) in the TME.

- Combination therapy strategies aimed at improving the prognosis of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the treatment of TME.

- Utilization of interdisciplinary techniques to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation are considered out of scope of this section.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Community Series in Interaction of Cell Subtypes in Tumor Microenvironment, and Implications for Immunotherapy Volume II