Frontiers | Regulation of the Tumor Microenvironment

About this Research Topic

Submission deadlines

Manuscript Submission Deadline 30 September 2026
This Research Topic is currently accepting articles
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Background

Recent advances in immuno-oncology highlight the dynamic interactions between the immune system and the tumor microenvironment (TME), shaping cancer progression and therapeutic outcomes. The TME is composed of cancer cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, extracellular matrix components, and vasculature, which interact dynamically to regulate tumor progression. Tumors often reprogram immune cells within the TME, fostering an immunosuppressive milieu that supports survival and immune evasion. Key mechanisms include immune checkpoints, cytokine signaling, and immune cell exhaustion, all of which play central roles in tumor immunity and resistance. These insights underscore the therapeutic potential of targeting immune pathways to restore effective antitumor responses. Harnessing and modulating immune components within the TME represents a promising avenue for improving cancer immunotherapy and achieving more durable clinical benefits.

This Research Topic invites studies examining the regulation of the TME, with an emphasis on immune mechanisms that shape tumor biology and treatment outcomes. We especially welcome research on immune cell interactions, tumor-driven immune escape, and strategies to modulate the immune landscape. Original Research and Review article types exploring the integration of immunotherapies—including checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapies, and vaccines—with TME-targeted approaches to enhance efficacy are highly encouraged.

Potential themes:
• Immune cell modulation within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and its impact on tumor progression
• Mechanisms of immune evasion in the TME, including the role of regulatory T cells, MDSCs, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), etc.
• The role of immune checkpoints (e.g., PD-1/PD-L1) in tumor immune suppression
• Cytokine and chemokine signaling in shaping the immune landscape of the TME
• The contribution of immune cell exhaustion and T cell dysfunction in the TME
• Strategies to modulate the TME for enhanced response to immunotherapy
• Combining immune therapies with TME-targeting approaches to overcome resistance in various cancer treatments.

Article types and fees

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

Brief Research Report
Case Report
Clinical Trial
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review

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

Keywords: Tumor, cancer, tumor microenvironment, immunosurveillance, tumor immunotherapy, endothelial cells, angiogenesis, cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor-associated macrophages, hypoxia

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.