About this Research Topic
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is heterogenous and poses enormous therapeutic potential as recently proven by the therapeutic success of antibodies inducing immune cell stimulation (e.g. immune checkpoint inhibitors) and anti-angiogenic therapies (e.g. targeting VEGF/VEGFR signaling). The interplay between the TME and the cancer cell compartment is essential for the therapeutic efficacy of many anti-cancer agents; however, the dynamics and the complexity of this network are not yet well characterized. Recent studies highlighting the complex interactions of the various TME components demonstrated, for example, that immune checkpoint inhibitors induce vascular changes and, that vice versa anti-angiogenic therapies may help to reverse immune exhaustion.
The aim of this Research Topic is to summarize the recent advances in the characterization of the TME focusing on technical advances (genetic advances as single-cell technologies and immuno-genetics) that led to a better understanding of the complex regulation of the TME, and how therapeutic strategies that focus on the inhibition of the TME could be complementary with standard therapies. Essential for understanding the TME is also to model the TME in ex vivo 3D culture systems and how this orgnaoid can be used for drug testing. Furthermore, the vascular network is an essential regulator and key player of the TME and therefore we will highlight how tumor endothelial cells rewire their phenotype, including their metabolism for interaction with the immune system and vice versa (barrier function of ECs in the brain, gut vascular barrier and microbiome interaction, colorectal cancer TME).
Next, we would aim to report on metabolic changes during metastasis formation and how cancer cells have to adapt to their new environment. Recently, metabolic investigations led to the identification of metabolic symbiosis of cancer cells and the TME compartment. These metabolic features pose therapeutic potential and might be synergistic with standard therapies.
In summary, this Research Topic will give a state of the art update on new biological and technical advances in the composition of the TME focusing on the vascular network and interaction with tumor immunology and how this knowledge could translate to new therapeutic strategies.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases that are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.
The aim of this Research Topic is to summarize the recent advances in the characterization of the TME focusing on technical advances (genetic advances as single-cell technologies and immuno-genetics) that led to a better understanding of the complex regulation of the TME, and how therapeutic strategies that focus on the inhibition of the TME could be complementary with standard therapies. Essential for understanding the TME is also to model the TME in ex vivo 3D culture systems and how this orgnaoid can be used for drug testing. Furthermore, the vascular network is an essential regulator and key player of the TME and therefore we will highlight how tumor endothelial cells rewire their phenotype, including their metabolism for interaction with the immune system and vice versa (barrier function of ECs in the brain, gut vascular barrier and microbiome interaction, colorectal cancer TME).
Next, we would aim to report on metabolic changes during metastasis formation and how cancer cells have to adapt to their new environment. Recently, metabolic investigations led to the identification of metabolic symbiosis of cancer cells and the TME compartment. These metabolic features pose therapeutic potential and might be synergistic with standard therapies.
In summary, this Research Topic will give a state of the art update on new biological and technical advances in the composition of the TME focusing on the vascular network and interaction with tumor immunology and how this knowledge could translate to new therapeutic strategies.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases that are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.
Keywords: Tumor angiogenesis, immune cell infiltration, tumor microenviroment, compartimentailzation, new targets
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.
