About this Research Topic
Tumor heterogeneity has become a key focus of research to further our understanding on cancer management. Studies are required to explore the influences of the tumor microenvironment and how it influences the progress and evolution of cancer. Technologies have since advanced and there are various emerging imaging techniques that allow to understand the spatial heterogeneity of the cancer environment using anatomical and functional imaging techniques.
These imaging techniques include fluorescence imaging in functional and super-resolution form, MRI imaging, IR imaging, Mass-spec imaging and modified versions of histology. Functional fluorescence imaging has shown to be an important tool to understand metabolic changes and heterogeneity in cancer. Super-resolution imaging has allowed the understanding of the interaction of proteins and changes in their functionality. The use of magnetic resonance imaging in oncological mechanisms has grown with the advent of new applications to evaluate processes such as metabolism, hypoxia, and fibrosis. Mass spectrometry imaging is being used to determine phenotypic changes within cell subpopulations in the tumor microenvironment. Applications so far, have identified therapeutic vulnerabilities, phenotypic changes in histologically normal appearing cells along tumor margins, and diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers.
The goal of this Research Topic is to discuss a set of novel applications of established and emerging imaging techniques to further understand the available tools that can be employed to study the cancer microenvironment.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
These imaging techniques include fluorescence imaging in functional and super-resolution form, MRI imaging, IR imaging, Mass-spec imaging and modified versions of histology. Functional fluorescence imaging has shown to be an important tool to understand metabolic changes and heterogeneity in cancer. Super-resolution imaging has allowed the understanding of the interaction of proteins and changes in their functionality. The use of magnetic resonance imaging in oncological mechanisms has grown with the advent of new applications to evaluate processes such as metabolism, hypoxia, and fibrosis. Mass spectrometry imaging is being used to determine phenotypic changes within cell subpopulations in the tumor microenvironment. Applications so far, have identified therapeutic vulnerabilities, phenotypic changes in histologically normal appearing cells along tumor margins, and diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers.
The goal of this Research Topic is to discuss a set of novel applications of established and emerging imaging techniques to further understand the available tools that can be employed to study the cancer microenvironment.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
Keywords: imaging, MRI, spatial heterogeneity, cancer environment
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