About this Research Topic
The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex network of heterogeneous tumor, stromal, immune, and vascular cells. For instance, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are derived from primitive mesenchyme and characterized by their ability to synthesize the extracellular matrix and stroma components. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and tumor-associated macrophages play key roles in local tumor control and immunosurveillance but have been associated with ambiguous roles in tumor progression and metastasis. While a tumor and its microenvironment interact and impact each other, some neoplasms, particularly gastrointestinal cancers - interactions between the microbiome (bacterial and viral) and the TME may play an additional role e.g. through influencing host immunity. Unraveling the TME's composition and interactions by integrative genomics analysis provides opportunities for personalized treatment for cancer patients.
High-throughput sequencing (NGS) and other molecular screening methods as well as recent single-cell analyses have revolutionized several fields of biology and medicine and provided opportunities for the in-depth identification and characterization of the TME components. Concurrently, computational investigations on high-throughput data from TME analyses have increasingly been applied in both basic and translational research.
The Topic invites contributions investigating the TME in areas related to functional and integrative cancer genomics. The primary interest includes understanding the mechanisms involving the TME in tumor initiation, growth, and progression, as well as characterizing the TME repertoire and their interactions in primary cancers and metastatic disease. Furthermore, computational and experimental clinical studies of TME in drug screening and testing will be considered.
We welcome original research and review papers, with a focus on "omics" approaches or developing technologies for high-throughput analyses in areas related to TME research. Topics include but are not limited to the following:
1. Tumor microenvironment biology and functional genomics;
2. The role and mechanism of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in solid tumors;
3. The dual roles of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and macrophages, and their mechanisms involved in immunological and inflammatory processes;
4. Biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets within the tumor microenvironment;
5. Cell-cell and cell-microbe interactions in the tumor microenvironment;
6. Big data omics approaches and data analytic methodologies for the studies of the tumor microenvironment.
High-throughput sequencing (NGS) and other molecular screening methods as well as recent single-cell analyses have revolutionized several fields of biology and medicine and provided opportunities for the in-depth identification and characterization of the TME components. Concurrently, computational investigations on high-throughput data from TME analyses have increasingly been applied in both basic and translational research.
The Topic invites contributions investigating the TME in areas related to functional and integrative cancer genomics. The primary interest includes understanding the mechanisms involving the TME in tumor initiation, growth, and progression, as well as characterizing the TME repertoire and their interactions in primary cancers and metastatic disease. Furthermore, computational and experimental clinical studies of TME in drug screening and testing will be considered.
We welcome original research and review papers, with a focus on "omics" approaches or developing technologies for high-throughput analyses in areas related to TME research. Topics include but are not limited to the following:
1. Tumor microenvironment biology and functional genomics;
2. The role and mechanism of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in solid tumors;
3. The dual roles of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and macrophages, and their mechanisms involved in immunological and inflammatory processes;
4. Biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets within the tumor microenvironment;
5. Cell-cell and cell-microbe interactions in the tumor microenvironment;
6. Big data omics approaches and data analytic methodologies for the studies of the tumor microenvironment.
Keywords: genomics, tumor microenvironment, integrative analysis, tumor-infiltrating cells, microbes, inflammation
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.
