About this Research Topic
Breast cancer still appears as the major cause of cancer-related deaths in women, with more than 2,260,000 cases reported in 2020. The current therapeutic options for these patients, according to their subtype and tumor stage, are based on surgery and conventional therapeutic approaches, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, and immunotherapy that can be provided before or after surgery, as neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatments, respectively. Thus, although representing one of the most investigated cancer subtypes and despite plenty of high-quality scientific research, the scenario of breast cancer treatment has not radically changed in the last years, except for the introduction in clinics of antibody-drug conjugates.
The goal of this research topic is to provide an overview of the most promising innovations in breast cancer investigations, starting from the development and application of cancer nanotherapeutics aimed at overcoming the inherent shortcomings of conventional treatments. In particular, innovative approaches capable of fighting cancer from the inside will be addressed, such as those targeting tumor microenvironments or remodeling cellular functions. Finally, the development and the study of more relevant 3D cancer models will be also included, such as patient-derived organoids or spheroids, critically considering their strengths and limits, to precisely recapitulate tumor heterogenicity and predict drug response in vivo.
This research topic aims to provide an overview of the most advanced approaches in breast cancer research and therapy. Original Research articles, Review articles, and Perspective articles by experts in the field are welcome, including but not limited to the following contents:
- Innovative 3D breast cancer models, including spheroids and organoids, that more closely mimic the breast tumor microenvironment;
- Advances in synthetic or natural-based nanomedicines to improve breast cancer diagnosis and/or treatment;
- Novel immunotherapeutic approaches, including cancer vaccines, and cell-based therapy.
The goal of this research topic is to provide an overview of the most promising innovations in breast cancer investigations, starting from the development and application of cancer nanotherapeutics aimed at overcoming the inherent shortcomings of conventional treatments. In particular, innovative approaches capable of fighting cancer from the inside will be addressed, such as those targeting tumor microenvironments or remodeling cellular functions. Finally, the development and the study of more relevant 3D cancer models will be also included, such as patient-derived organoids or spheroids, critically considering their strengths and limits, to precisely recapitulate tumor heterogenicity and predict drug response in vivo.
This research topic aims to provide an overview of the most advanced approaches in breast cancer research and therapy. Original Research articles, Review articles, and Perspective articles by experts in the field are welcome, including but not limited to the following contents:
- Innovative 3D breast cancer models, including spheroids and organoids, that more closely mimic the breast tumor microenvironment;
- Advances in synthetic or natural-based nanomedicines to improve breast cancer diagnosis and/or treatment;
- Novel immunotherapeutic approaches, including cancer vaccines, and cell-based therapy.
Keywords: Cancer, nanobiotechnology, nanodrug delivery, immunotherapy, stem cell-based therapies, organoids
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.
