Tumor-host interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME) represent a critical area of cancer research. The TME is characterized by hypoxia, nutrient competition, acidic pH, chronic inflammation, and dynamic communication between cancer, immune, and stromal cells. These interactions involve the release of soluble factors such as metabolites, cytokines, growth factors, and exosomes, which drive aberrant signaling pathways and phenotypic and metabolic plasticity in both tumor and immune cells. This metabolic adaptation is crucial for tumor growth, metastatic dissemination, and therapy resistance. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of targeting altered signaling and tumor metabolism as a promising approach for new cancer therapies. However, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular and biochemical mechanisms by which cancer and immune/stromal cells reprogram their metabolism and exchange metabolites and soluble factors is still lacking. This gap in knowledge underscores the need for further investigation into the metabolic and signaling pathways within the TME to develop new anti-cancer targets and improve therapeutic outcomes.
This research topic aims to elucidate the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying the metabolic and signaling crosstalk between cancer, immune, and stromal cells within the TME. The primary objectives include understanding how these cells reprogram their metabolism, exchange metabolites and soluble factors, and how these processes contribute to tumor survival, proliferation, immune evasion, and metastasis. By addressing these questions, the research aims to identify novel therapeutic targets that can re-activate a competent immune response and improve cancer treatment strategies.
To gather further insights into the complex dynamics of tumor-host interactions, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Cancer metabolic pathways and immune metabolism associated with the TME
- Systems-level profiling of immune-tumor crosstalk
- ROS signaling and redox homeostasis
- Signaling pathways regulating cancer metabolism, inflammation, and immune metabolism in the TME
- Signaling and metabolic pathways supporting tumor progression and immune cell exhaustion/anergy
- The "secretome" including metabolic and soluble factors within the TME
- Pre-clinical studies of novel inhibitors impacting the described pathways and cellular processes
- In vivo (animal models) and in vitro (organoids, tissue culture) models to dissect the relationship between tumor and TME for pharmacological research and drug discovery
Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases, which are not accompanied by experimental validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo), will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
Keywords: tumor microenvironment, TME, tumor progression, tumor-host crosstalk, cancer cells, immune cells, stromal cells
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.
