The field of oncology is rapidly evolving with the growth in our understanding of cancer pathogenesis and the advent of new treatment modalities. However, there are still key research questions that need to be addressed. Frontiers in Oncology is working with members of our Editorial Board to tackle some of these key questions through Editor’s Challenges, each of which poses a key question in the oncology field. We are delighted to present this Editor’s Challenge, led by Dr. Pilotto and in collaboration with Dr. Morten Quist and Dr. Alice Avancini, asking the key research question "How can we modulate the tumor-host interplay through lifestyle to optimize outcomes in patients with lung cancer?"

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, with the genomic background of the tumor playing a crucial role in determining its characteristics, behavior, prognosis, and treatment sensitivity. Despite the introduction of immunotherapy as a first-line treatment option for advanced lung cancer, responses to treatments are heterogeneous and influenced by a series of tumor- and host-related factors. These factors need to be explored and clarified to optimize the decision-making algorithm and improve the expected treatment benefit.

This research topic aims to investigate the role of lifestyle-related factors in modulating the tumor-host interplay and optimizing outcomes in patients with lung cancer. Exposure to genotoxic and tumor-promoting lifestyle-related factors such as smoking, unbalanced diet, and lack of physical activity may interact with the host’s genetic and immuno-inflammatory profiles, leading to an increased risk of cancer development, progression, and impaired treatment response/tolerability. Among lifestyle-related habits, physical activity and nutrition have been shown to have a crucial role in lung cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms by which modifiable lifestyle interacts with host factors have not yet been clarified.

To gather further insights into the role of lifestyle in modulating the tumor-host interplay in lung cancer, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
● The role of physical activity and nutrition in lung cancer.
● The impact of lifestyle-related factors on the genomic background of lung cancer.
● The influence of lifestyle on the response to lung cancer treatments.
● The mechanisms by which lifestyle interacts with host factors in lung cancer.
● The potential of lifestyle interventions to mitigate treatment-related toxicities and improve patients’ quality of life.

Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases that 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.

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