About this Research Topic
Cancer is a complex and heterogenous disease with a dynamic interaction between cancer cells and their microenvironment. The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises the interaction among the extracellular matrix, fibroblasts, immune cells, pericytes, blood vessels, and cancer cells. The TME has proved to be pivotal on promoting tumor aggressiveness, progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapies in several human cancers. However, it is an emerging topic in Veterinary Oncology. Due to TME importance on resistance to therapy, the investigation of TME has emerged as a promising approach for cancer treatment in recent years. Targeting TME components can bring a new therapeutic perspective for treating cancer in companion animals. In Biomedicine, the TME is the focus of several studies, including basic, translational, and applied studies. On the other hand, in Veterinary Medicine, most of the studies are focused on the evaluation of isolated components from TME, using immunohistochemistry. In Companion Animals, understanding TME is an emerging subject, with high translational potential.
Tumor progression is highly dependent of modifications in the TME, which are directly related with a patient’s prognosis and present direct impacts on chemotherapy efficiency. Investigating and comprehending the TME composition during tumor progression allows new therapeutic strategies and approaches personalized to each patient. Thus, understanding its complex interactions leads to different strategies to reprogramming TME for therapeutic purposes. The main goal of this special issue is understanding the complex interactions among the extracellular matrix, blood vessels, immune cells, and cancer in TME, leading to different therapeutic perspectives in companion animals. Therefore, we are specially seeking for studies with a translational approach.
We welcome Original Research and Review articles from investigators worldwide that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the interactions with tumor microenvironment, including:
- Description of the extracellular matrix complexity and its implication on competition animal’s cancer treatment
- Investigations into the role of inflammatory cells on different cancer subtypes
- Specific therapies targeting tumor microenvironment components with translational potential
- Genetic and epigenetic modifications associated with the tumor microenvironment
- Therapeutic implications of hypoxia and angiogenesis in tumors from small animals
Tumor progression is highly dependent of modifications in the TME, which are directly related with a patient’s prognosis and present direct impacts on chemotherapy efficiency. Investigating and comprehending the TME composition during tumor progression allows new therapeutic strategies and approaches personalized to each patient. Thus, understanding its complex interactions leads to different strategies to reprogramming TME for therapeutic purposes. The main goal of this special issue is understanding the complex interactions among the extracellular matrix, blood vessels, immune cells, and cancer in TME, leading to different therapeutic perspectives in companion animals. Therefore, we are specially seeking for studies with a translational approach.
We welcome Original Research and Review articles from investigators worldwide that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the interactions with tumor microenvironment, including:
- Description of the extracellular matrix complexity and its implication on competition animal’s cancer treatment
- Investigations into the role of inflammatory cells on different cancer subtypes
- Specific therapies targeting tumor microenvironment components with translational potential
- Genetic and epigenetic modifications associated with the tumor microenvironment
- Therapeutic implications of hypoxia and angiogenesis in tumors from small animals
Keywords: Tumor associated macrophages, angiogenesis, vasculogenic mimicry, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, translational medicine
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.
