About this Research Topic
Tumor environment (TME) is a complex and dynamic network of cells and structures around a tumor, including stroma, fibroblastoma, immune cells and so on. The interaction between the TME and a tumor is fundamental to the initiation, progression, and metastasis of a tumor as well as the response to treatment. Better understanding of the communication between the TME and a tumor is not only helpful to predict the prognosis but also worthwhile to improve the outcome of treatment.
The complexity and heterogeneity of the TME and its evolution throughout tumor development mount significant challenges to how scientists and clinicians collaborate to depict and reprogram the TME. Fortunately, molecular imaging is a novel tool to visualize, characterize, and measure biological processes in the TME. Molecular imaging also holds great promise to make transformative advances in cancer precision medicine. In the past few decades, single or multimodal molecular imaging, such as bioluminescence imaging, fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and photoacoustic imaging, have been increasingly applied to characterize and monitor the TME (i.e. stromal cells, pH, hypoxia, and immune cells). Theranostic imaging, as a rapidly expanding facet of molecular imaging, is also creating new possibilities to reprogram the TME by delivering drugs, siRNAs, antibodies, or eliminating targeted composites via photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy.
The current Research Topic aims to present the trends and developments of molecular and theranostic imaging targeting the TME. We encourage authors to submit both Original Research and Review Articles describing molecular imaging probes, nanoprobes, theranostic systems, and their applications in the field of the TME. The potential areas to be covered in the Research Topic include but are not limited to the following:
• Design and development of molecular imaging probes and theranostic systems
• Application of molecular imaging and theranostic imaging in the study of TME
• Therapeutic strategies via reshape the TME
• The combination of different imaging to monitor the heterogeneity and evolution of TME
The complexity and heterogeneity of the TME and its evolution throughout tumor development mount significant challenges to how scientists and clinicians collaborate to depict and reprogram the TME. Fortunately, molecular imaging is a novel tool to visualize, characterize, and measure biological processes in the TME. Molecular imaging also holds great promise to make transformative advances in cancer precision medicine. In the past few decades, single or multimodal molecular imaging, such as bioluminescence imaging, fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and photoacoustic imaging, have been increasingly applied to characterize and monitor the TME (i.e. stromal cells, pH, hypoxia, and immune cells). Theranostic imaging, as a rapidly expanding facet of molecular imaging, is also creating new possibilities to reprogram the TME by delivering drugs, siRNAs, antibodies, or eliminating targeted composites via photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy.
The current Research Topic aims to present the trends and developments of molecular and theranostic imaging targeting the TME. We encourage authors to submit both Original Research and Review Articles describing molecular imaging probes, nanoprobes, theranostic systems, and their applications in the field of the TME. The potential areas to be covered in the Research Topic include but are not limited to the following:
• Design and development of molecular imaging probes and theranostic systems
• Application of molecular imaging and theranostic imaging in the study of TME
• Therapeutic strategies via reshape the TME
• The combination of different imaging to monitor the heterogeneity and evolution of TME
Keywords: Tumour Microenvironment, Molecular Imaging, Theranostics, Immune Microenvironment, Nanoprobes
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.
