The classification and distribution (type and number) of immune cells vary between different cancer types, which is considered to be regulated by the genetic background of tumor cells. Owing to their strong plasticity, immune cells play different (from anti-tumoral to pro-tumoral) roles in the tumor microenvironment. The complexity of the tumor microenvironment is manifested in that the same type of immune cells exhibit completely different biological functions at multiple stages of tumor progression, and the same type of immune cells can also promote/antagonize tumor progression through different functions in the same tumor progression stage. Immune cell subsets heterogeneity is the reason for the individual differences in the efficacy of immunotherapy and tumor treatment resistance. Therefore, correct and in-depth understanding of the dynamic changes of immune cells in tumor microenvironments can provide personalized immune intervention strategies for cancer patients.
In this Research Topic, we welcome authors to submit Original Research and Review articles contributing to better understand the plasticity of immune cells in tumor microenvironment.
Potential topics can include, but are not limited to:
-Bilateral role of immune cells in tumor environment,
-Reversal of T cell exhaustion for tumor immune therapy,
-M1/M2 like macrophage balance for tumor immune therapy,
-N1/N2 like neutrophils balance for tumor immune therapy,
-The function of cytokine IFN-?/IL-17a balance in tumor environment,
-New strategy targeting immune cells plasticity,
-Mechanisms of dynamic changes of immune cells in regulating therapy resistance.
We would like to acknowledge and credit
Dr. Chenghui Yang as Topic Coordinator, having organized and contributed to the preparation of the proposal for this Research Topic.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which 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.