Cancer Cell Adhesion, Metastasis, and the Immune Response

Metastatic disease is the major cause of cancer-related deaths. However, only limited success has been achieved in blocking metastasis due to the incomplete understanding of the molecular basis and integrated mechanisms underlying this exceedingly complex process. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) include integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulins, which are critical for mediating the metastatic processes and regulation of the immune and tumor microenvironment. Given the large number of interacting proteins and interactions involved in cell adhesion, it is imperative to define new roles, pathways, and regulations involving CAMs. These include how CAMs act as modulators of the metastatic process, how they mediate the interactions between tumor cells and immune cells, as well as how they affect immune cell function during antitumor immunity. These studies will provide a strong mechanism-based framework for developing novel therapeutics to combat metastatic tumor growth and progression.

In this Research Topic, we invite original research articles, reviews, or perspective articles on all aspects related to this theme. We aim to demystify novel mechanisms underpinning how CAMs regulate tumor cell plasticity and adhesiveness to immune cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts, alongside other tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment. We also hope to gain new insights into the further development of drugs/inhibitors that can therapeutically target CAMs in the treatment of metastatic cancers.

The aim of the current Research Topic is to cover promising, recent, and novel research trends in the field of cell adhesion, metastasis, and the immune response. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:

• The molecular basis by which CAMs modulate the metastatic progress
• The molecular basis by which CAMs remodel the extracellular matrix of tumor cells
• The role of CAMs in regulating immune cell function
• Positive and negative roles of CAMs in antitumor immunity, including immune cell migration and activation
• The molecular mechanisms by which CAMs regulate tumor cell plasticity in the tumor microenvironment
• The utility of three-dimensional models or animal models in studying cancer cell adhesion and metastasis
• Recent therapeutic approaches (including novel drugs/inhibitors) that target CAMs to prevent or treat metastatic tumors