About this Research Topic
It is well established that the tumor microenvironment(TME) plays a pivotal role in tumor initiation, progression and therapeutic resistance by creating a dynamic interaction with cancer cells. TME is comprised of extracellular matrix (ECM), growth factors, nutrients, blood and lymphatic vessels, and non-cancer stromal cells, which serve as a sustained niche for cancer cells to proliferate and metastasize. Notably, various cellular components in TME, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, pericytes, adipocytes, immune cells, cancer stem cells, and vasculature, could promote tumor’s immune evasion and growth.
With the increasingly profound understanding of the mechanisms regulating the interconnection between malignant cells and microenvironmental components, the TME is now under investigation for its role in cancer therapeutics. For example, phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma isoform (PI3Kγ) plays a critical role in myeloid-derived cells of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and IPI-549, a small molecule selective PI3Kγ inhibitor, could reverse P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistance. Moreover, cancer immunotherapy like immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 has become a therapeutic strategy by modulating T cell activity in cancers. However, it is indispensable to explore the underlying mechanisms involved in the interrelationship between TME and cancer cells and the basis of therapeutic targets and drug resistance related to TME.
This Research Topic aims to elucidate the intricate networks of TME and malignant cells, and the reciprocal action that affect tumorigenesis, progression, immune escape, therapy resistance and explore the novel cancer therapy strategies targeting TME. We welcome the authors to submit Original Research and Review articles contributing to uncovering the new hallmarks involved in TME, therapeutic strategies and drug resistance.
• Molecular mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between TME and tumorigenesis
• Signaling pathways related to the immune evasion regulated by TME
• Therapeutic approaches targeting TME and cancer cell interactions
• TME and cancer stem cells
• New strategies to facilitate immunotherapy effects
• Strategies to overcome drug resistance in cancer
• TME reprogramming after different anti-cancer treatments
• Similarities, differences, and therapeutic outcomes of the TME of different types of cancers
We would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Shaoquan Zheng from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, China to the development of this Research Topic as Research Topic Coordinator.
With the increasingly profound understanding of the mechanisms regulating the interconnection between malignant cells and microenvironmental components, the TME is now under investigation for its role in cancer therapeutics. For example, phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma isoform (PI3Kγ) plays a critical role in myeloid-derived cells of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and IPI-549, a small molecule selective PI3Kγ inhibitor, could reverse P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistance. Moreover, cancer immunotherapy like immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 has become a therapeutic strategy by modulating T cell activity in cancers. However, it is indispensable to explore the underlying mechanisms involved in the interrelationship between TME and cancer cells and the basis of therapeutic targets and drug resistance related to TME.
This Research Topic aims to elucidate the intricate networks of TME and malignant cells, and the reciprocal action that affect tumorigenesis, progression, immune escape, therapy resistance and explore the novel cancer therapy strategies targeting TME. We welcome the authors to submit Original Research and Review articles contributing to uncovering the new hallmarks involved in TME, therapeutic strategies and drug resistance.
• Molecular mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between TME and tumorigenesis
• Signaling pathways related to the immune evasion regulated by TME
• Therapeutic approaches targeting TME and cancer cell interactions
• TME and cancer stem cells
• New strategies to facilitate immunotherapy effects
• Strategies to overcome drug resistance in cancer
• TME reprogramming after different anti-cancer treatments
• Similarities, differences, and therapeutic outcomes of the TME of different types of cancers
We would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Shaoquan Zheng from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, China to the development of this Research Topic as Research Topic Coordinator.
Keywords: tumor microenvironment, cancer therapy, immune evasion, drug resistance
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