About this Research Topic
Although the AGF-hypoxia axis may be context-dependent, its ability to recruit mostly monocyte-macrophage lineage, such as CD11c+ DC cells, might act as an additional source of VEGF, favoring the development of high endothelial venules (HEV) and ultimately contributing to the generation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS). TLS are ectopic lymphoid aggregates occurring in tissues at site of unresolved inflammation and cancer and TLS density has been correlated with prolonged patients' survival in different type of tumors, as they can improve the local and systemic immune response against tumor cells.
While many studies have focused on the impact of the immune system in modulating angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment (TME), thus allowing for tumor growth and invasiveness, less attention has been paid to the effects of AGFs-hypoxia in regulating the immune response during the tumor promotion and progression. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the intricate interplay established in TME between AGFs- hypoxia and the immune cells that blunt the anti-tumor immune response. This Research Topic will focus on the most recent findings concerning the molecular and cellular mechanisms involving AGFs-hypoxia and the immune cells in tumors, in order to identify possible therapeutic targets. We welcome the submission of Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Original Research articles that can offer new insights into the following sub-topics:
• Cross-talk between angiogenic growth factors-hypoxia and cells of innate immunity in the TME.
• Cross-talk between angiogenic growth factors-hypoxia and cells of adaptive immunity in the TME.
• Reciprocal interplay between different immune cell types (innate or adaptive) in a TME characterized by presence of AGFs and hypoxia
• Endothelial-immune cells interplay during vascular inflammation and metastasis.
• Impact of AGFs-hypoxia in generating TLS.
• Predicting and optimizing cellular responses to therapeutic strategies that target the AGFs-hypoxia axis
Keywords: AGFs [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)], VEGF-Rs, hypoxia, adaptive immunity, Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), tumor microenvironment (TME), innate immunity
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