Hematologic malignancies (HMs) represent a group of hematologic cancers originating from bone marrow or lymphoid organs. Currently, leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma are the most common HMs. Conventional treatments for HMs include bone marrow transplantation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Despite the significant achievements obtained over the past decade in the drug therapy of HMs, tumor metastasis and relapse in patients often occurred after an initial response, indicating the generation of drug resistance to current therapies. Moreover, many clinically used therapeutic drugs are often associated with dose-related side effects and a lack of specificity to tumor tissues. The tumor microenvironment (TME) in HMs consists of a complicated network of cellular interactions and signaling cross-talking within the bone marrow cavity, and it plays an essential role in the progression and metastasis of HM. Furthermore, the TME in HMs has formed physiologic barriers such as immunosuppressive microenvironment, upregulated anti-apoptotic system, drug resistance, etc. to facilitate drug resistance and relapse of HMs. It has become widely accepted that effective treatment against HMs may require targeting both the cancer cell and TME.
The TME in HMs is quite different from that in solid tumors. Recent studies have provided new insight into the molecular mechanisms of the generation and progression of TME in HMs. According to the characteristic of TME of HMs, this research topic intends to bring together new therapeutic drugs or strategies to overcome the various in vivo barriers and achieve improved therapeutic outcomes of HMs. In terms of the distinct immunosuppressive environment in HMs, developing the combinational strategies of immunotherapies and chemotherapy or radiation therapy would be of great potential. As to the activated anti-apoptotic systems in the TME of HMs, targeting key signaling molecules or pathways using specific inhibitors might be especially desirable. In addition, the drug resistance caused by the decreased drug uptake and increased drug efflux in TME of HMs might call for highly effective drug delivery strategies. In general, we look forward to receiving research findings focusing on overcoming the in vivo barriers by targeting TME of HMs for improved therapeutic efficacy in HMs.
We accept manuscripts focusing on the discovery of new therapeutic approaches targeting the tumor microenvironment of HMs, for the purpose of promoting further clinical translation and application. Herein, we sincerely invite researchers to contribute research articles or reviews of high quality on the following topics (but are not limited to):
• Novel therapeutic agents for HMs, including new active compounds, and existing drugs for new application in HMs.
• Synergetic treatments such as the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, etc.
• Construction of functional drug delivery systems such as nanoparticles, micelles, or hydrogel, to improve the bioavailability of therapeutic agents.
• Cell-based therapies for HMs, including adoptive cell therapy and cell ingredients as drug carriers.
• The discovery of new biomarkers or molecular targets in HMs.
Hematologic malignancies (HMs) represent a group of hematologic cancers originating from bone marrow or lymphoid organs. Currently, leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma are the most common HMs. Conventional treatments for HMs include bone marrow transplantation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Despite the significant achievements obtained over the past decade in the drug therapy of HMs, tumor metastasis and relapse in patients often occurred after an initial response, indicating the generation of drug resistance to current therapies. Moreover, many clinically used therapeutic drugs are often associated with dose-related side effects and a lack of specificity to tumor tissues. The tumor microenvironment (TME) in HMs consists of a complicated network of cellular interactions and signaling cross-talking within the bone marrow cavity, and it plays an essential role in the progression and metastasis of HM. Furthermore, the TME in HMs has formed physiologic barriers such as immunosuppressive microenvironment, upregulated anti-apoptotic system, drug resistance, etc. to facilitate drug resistance and relapse of HMs. It has become widely accepted that effective treatment against HMs may require targeting both the cancer cell and TME.
The TME in HMs is quite different from that in solid tumors. Recent studies have provided new insight into the molecular mechanisms of the generation and progression of TME in HMs. According to the characteristic of TME of HMs, this research topic intends to bring together new therapeutic drugs or strategies to overcome the various in vivo barriers and achieve improved therapeutic outcomes of HMs. In terms of the distinct immunosuppressive environment in HMs, developing the combinational strategies of immunotherapies and chemotherapy or radiation therapy would be of great potential. As to the activated anti-apoptotic systems in the TME of HMs, targeting key signaling molecules or pathways using specific inhibitors might be especially desirable. In addition, the drug resistance caused by the decreased drug uptake and increased drug efflux in TME of HMs might call for highly effective drug delivery strategies. In general, we look forward to receiving research findings focusing on overcoming the in vivo barriers by targeting TME of HMs for improved therapeutic efficacy in HMs.
We accept manuscripts focusing on the discovery of new therapeutic approaches targeting the tumor microenvironment of HMs, for the purpose of promoting further clinical translation and application. Herein, we sincerely invite researchers to contribute research articles or reviews of high quality on the following topics (but are not limited to):
• Novel therapeutic agents for HMs, including new active compounds, and existing drugs for new application in HMs.
• Synergetic treatments such as the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, etc.
• Construction of functional drug delivery systems such as nanoparticles, micelles, or hydrogel, to improve the bioavailability of therapeutic agents.
• Cell-based therapies for HMs, including adoptive cell therapy and cell ingredients as drug carriers.
• The discovery of new biomarkers or molecular targets in HMs.