The tumor microenvironment (TME) represents the non-cancerous stromal cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells, immune cells, and their associated extracellular matrix (ECM). The constant crosstalk between cancer cells and their associated stroma is pivotal for the initiation and progression of tumors and their response to therapies. This is mostly achieved by secretion of various pro-tumorigenic and pro-metastatic factors by the TME that helps in promoting growth, invasiveness, immune escape, and ECM remodeling. Strategies to target or normalize various stromal components of the TME have emerged as promising approaches for cancer treatment in recent years. More investigations of the TME are needed to improve precision oncology and reduce off-target effects.
The TME is being increasingly recognized as a key factor in multiple stages of tumor progression, particularly local resistance, immune-escape, and the establishment of distant metastases. Therefore, the TME holds substantial influence on the development of frontline interventions in clinical oncology. An appropriate understanding of the TME promotes the evaluation and selection of specific molecular targets to treat malignancies at both the primary sites as well as metastatic cancers. Recent advances in tumor biology have shown that the interaction of cancer cells with their microenvironment is highly dynamic and bidirectional, which is regulated by (i) cell-cell contacts, or cell-ECM contacts, and (ii) the mediators that enable these contacts. Therefore, studying metastasis in the context of the microenvironment is essential to get a more complete understanding of the disease.
We welcome manuscripts/review articles/mini-review articles focusing on:
• Development of novel models to study the tumor microenvironment
• Studies focusing on the functions of various TME components
• Molecular understanding of the reciprocal interaction between tumor cells and their microenvironment
• Identification of factors that play critical roles involved in interactions between tumor cells and infiltrated cells
• The balance between anti-tumor immunity and immunosuppression
• Regulation of tumor plasticity and stemness by the tumor microenvironment
• The establishment of the pre-metastatic niche in the development of metastasis
The tumor microenvironment (TME) represents the non-cancerous stromal cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells, immune cells, and their associated extracellular matrix (ECM). The constant crosstalk between cancer cells and their associated stroma is pivotal for the initiation and progression of tumors and their response to therapies. This is mostly achieved by secretion of various pro-tumorigenic and pro-metastatic factors by the TME that helps in promoting growth, invasiveness, immune escape, and ECM remodeling. Strategies to target or normalize various stromal components of the TME have emerged as promising approaches for cancer treatment in recent years. More investigations of the TME are needed to improve precision oncology and reduce off-target effects.
The TME is being increasingly recognized as a key factor in multiple stages of tumor progression, particularly local resistance, immune-escape, and the establishment of distant metastases. Therefore, the TME holds substantial influence on the development of frontline interventions in clinical oncology. An appropriate understanding of the TME promotes the evaluation and selection of specific molecular targets to treat malignancies at both the primary sites as well as metastatic cancers. Recent advances in tumor biology have shown that the interaction of cancer cells with their microenvironment is highly dynamic and bidirectional, which is regulated by (i) cell-cell contacts, or cell-ECM contacts, and (ii) the mediators that enable these contacts. Therefore, studying metastasis in the context of the microenvironment is essential to get a more complete understanding of the disease.
We welcome manuscripts/review articles/mini-review articles focusing on:
• Development of novel models to study the tumor microenvironment
• Studies focusing on the functions of various TME components
• Molecular understanding of the reciprocal interaction between tumor cells and their microenvironment
• Identification of factors that play critical roles involved in interactions between tumor cells and infiltrated cells
• The balance between anti-tumor immunity and immunosuppression
• Regulation of tumor plasticity and stemness by the tumor microenvironment
• The establishment of the pre-metastatic niche in the development of metastasis