Tumor Micro-environment and Drug Resistance

Cancer cell resistance to anticancer drugs has mainly been ascribed to inherent tumor cell heterogeneity, but in recent years, growing evidence has supported tumor microenvironment as a non-negligible factor for drug resistance. Tumor infiltrates, which are composed of immune cells, angiogenic vascular cells, lymphatic endothelial cells, and cancer-associated fibroblastic cells contribute actively to tumor drug resistance together with the non-cellular tumor microenvironment, such as hypoxia, acidity, cytokines, and extracellular matrix. Tumor-favorable microenvironment leads to tumor resistance to chemotherapy and molecularly targeted therapy by the promotion of tumor growth, avoidance of tumor cell apoptosis, induced tumor cells autophagy, and blockage of drug distribution. However, the interplay between the tumor cells and the microenvironment as well as its underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated.

This Research Topic aims to synthesize novel mechanistic insights on molecular pathways and cellular processes involved in tumor drug resistance. We welcome basic research with a focus on cancer microenvironment and drug resistance. Transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics studies that reveal new cellular or biochemical aspects of the connection between tumor microenvironment and drug resistance are also welcome.

We encourage submissions of Original Research and Review articles that focus on, but not limited to, the following aspects:
1. Tumor infiltrates and tumor drug resistance
2. The interplay between inflammatory cells and tumor cells and its effect on drug resistance
3. Microenvironmental signal transduction and tumor drug resistance
4. Metabolic reprogramming, cell death, sustained angiogenesis, cell autophagy, and drug distribution
5. Crosstalk between tumor cells and microenvironment that affects tumor drug resistance
6. Microbiome harbored in the microenvironment and its effect on tumor drug resistance