About this Research Topic

Background

Omics has revolutionized cancer biology research as well as the clinical practice of molecular oncology, and it is plausible to expect genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics, and other aspects of omics to play a substantial role in bringing a more promising precision oncology era in the near future.

Notably, omics enables researchers to decipher the sophisticated tumor microenvironment, such as by quantification and characterization of the immune cells, studying the cross-talk between immune cells and tumor cells, and also by shedding light on the intrinsic properties of tumor cells, for instance, on the mechanisms by which they evade the immune system.

Immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs), adoptive cell transfer (e. g. CAR-T/NK cells), and cancer vaccines are examples of cancer immunotherapy. Interestingly, ICBs are now widely accepted
as potential first-line treatments for advanced-stage esophageal, gastric, and colon carcinomas. However, the moderate effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy underscores the necessity for further research.

In this research topic, we desire to look into the immune-related omics profiles and signatures in gastrointestinal tract carcinoma patients to address the following still ongoing research subjects:

1. Identification of novel potentially druggable targets
2. Classification of patients into prognostic categories so that an alternative, presumably more intensive, treatment to be employed for patients with an expected more ominous outcome
3. To find the combinations of omics variants in the level of genes, RNAs, proteins, epigenetics, and like that to determine the response to therapeutic interventions
4. Resistance to and adverse effects of cancer treatment, particularly immunotherapy.
5. Development of state-of-the-art methods for biomarker detection
6. Investigation of the tumor microenvironment as a still mysterious zone, where the interactions between tumor cells and their surrounding cells and molecules dramatically modify carcinogenesis and tumor behavior (progression, metastasis, recurrence, etc.)

Submissions must be within the scope of the Frontiers in Immunology, and all types of manuscripts, including original research, systematic review/meta-analysis, narrative reviews, and clinical trials, are desired. Studies employing multi-omics data integration, spatial omics, or
single-cell omics are especially welcome. Outstanding case reports with distinguished importance to the field are also eligible to be considered for publication.

Important note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public databases, which are not accompanied by relevant clinical or experimental (in vitro or in vivo) validation are out of scope.

Keywords: colon, stomach, esophagus, cancer, omics, immuno-oncology, molecular oncology, immunotherapy, prognosis

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.

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