About this Research Topic
Local and distant metastasis are distinguished features of advanced gastrointestinal cancer, accounting for the poor prognosis greatly. There is a complicated regulatory network for the invasion, dissemination, and metastasis cascade. Exploring how metastasis occurs is fundamental for the recognition and targeted treatment for late-stage gastrointestinal cancer. Altered protein-coding genes, miRNAs, and lncRNAs, caused by genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications, are involved in the invasive behavior of cancer cells. Meanwhile, a suitable pro-metastatic microenvironment, including hypoxia, cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF), tissue-resident, and recruited macrophages, among others, are also indispensable for the motility of cancer cells. High-thought genomic-level approaches and in vitro/in vivo studies in recent years have yielded terrific advances in recognizing the molecular mechanisms for the motility of cancer cells. Further studies would bring more discoveries and reshape the biological and functional framework of tumor invasion.
This Research Topic aims at exploring recent advances in the molecular and cellular basis accounting for the distinct metastatic stages of gastrointestinal cancer. Identification of molecules (including miRNA, lncRNA, proteins) involved in these processes and the regulatory mechanisms from transcription to translation warrant in-depth studies. We would like to focus on the mechanisms of how the tumor cells in the gastrointestinal tract educate the surrounding microenvironment, break down the basement membrane, enter the lymphatic duct/ blood vessel, escape the immune surveillance, then colonize regional lymph nodes and distant organs.
We welcome researchers to contribute their Original Research studies and Review articles about the metastatic mechanisms of gastrointestinal cancer, especially on the following themes:
1. Genetic mutation, epigenetic modification, post-transcription and post-translation modulations of invasiveness-related genes in gastrointestinal cancer
2. Metastatic microenvironment of gastrointestinal cancer
3. The role of gut microbiota in the metastasis of gastrointestinal cancer
4. Invasiveness related transcription factors in gastrointestinal cancer
5. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastrointestinal cancer
6. Immune evasion and the metastasis of gastrointestinal cancer
This Research Topic aims at exploring recent advances in the molecular and cellular basis accounting for the distinct metastatic stages of gastrointestinal cancer. Identification of molecules (including miRNA, lncRNA, proteins) involved in these processes and the regulatory mechanisms from transcription to translation warrant in-depth studies. We would like to focus on the mechanisms of how the tumor cells in the gastrointestinal tract educate the surrounding microenvironment, break down the basement membrane, enter the lymphatic duct/ blood vessel, escape the immune surveillance, then colonize regional lymph nodes and distant organs.
We welcome researchers to contribute their Original Research studies and Review articles about the metastatic mechanisms of gastrointestinal cancer, especially on the following themes:
1. Genetic mutation, epigenetic modification, post-transcription and post-translation modulations of invasiveness-related genes in gastrointestinal cancer
2. Metastatic microenvironment of gastrointestinal cancer
3. The role of gut microbiota in the metastasis of gastrointestinal cancer
4. Invasiveness related transcription factors in gastrointestinal cancer
5. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastrointestinal cancer
6. Immune evasion and the metastasis of gastrointestinal cancer
Keywords: Gastric cancer, Colorectal cancer, Esophageal cancer, Invasion, Metastasis
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.
