Recent technology developments have enabled the in-depth characterization of the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity that underlies various types of tumors. However, we are just beginning to understand the context and value of this information, especially with respect to tumor evolution, tumor-microenvironment interaction, and therapeutic resistance. Intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) is an inherent characteristic of all tumors and has a critical consequence for both disease progression and therapeutic strategy. Although the earliest studies discussing ITH emerged in the 1950s, only a smattering of studies delved into this Achilles’ heel of the cancer field, because of the dearth of tools to fully characterize ITH.
Since 2010, however, there has been an exponential rise in the number of studies exploring ITH owing to innovative technologies and widespread access to these technologies. In recent times, given the availability of tools, the ability to work with big data, and the well-appreciated impact of ITH on clinical outcomes, the ITH field is truly at the frontier of cancer therapeutics and therefore warrants an article collection. The study of ITH helps overcome the tall knowledge barrier presented by traditional assumptions of tumors as homogenous masses and will lay the foundation of how we look at tumors from here on. Through this Research Topic, we will highlight work that serves to quantify, discuss, and contextualize intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) across cancer subtypes. This collection will call attention to this critical field; encourage the discussion on challenges and limitations, especially through reviews and perspectives; and highlight lessons on ITH and its clinical impact across cancer types, thereby enabling interdisciplinary knowledge transfer.
Researchers are encouraged to submit Original Research articles, Reviews, Mini-reviews, Systematic Reviews, Case Reports, Perspectives, Short communications, Opinions, Study Protocols, and Methods relevant to this article collection that will cover topics such as (but not limited to):
- Utilization of ITH data in treatment decision-making or prognosis prediction
- Utilization of ITH data to characterize tumor evolution
- Utilization of ITH data to characterize tumor microenvironment and cell-cell interactions
- Innovative technologies and bioinformatics tools
Keywords:
cancer heterogeneity, intratumor heterogeneity, omics, therapy resistance, tumor evolution, clonal lineage, single-cell transcriptomics, precision medicine
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.
Recent technology developments have enabled the in-depth characterization of the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity that underlies various types of tumors. However, we are just beginning to understand the context and value of this information, especially with respect to tumor evolution, tumor-microenvironment interaction, and therapeutic resistance. Intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) is an inherent characteristic of all tumors and has a critical consequence for both disease progression and therapeutic strategy. Although the earliest studies discussing ITH emerged in the 1950s, only a smattering of studies delved into this Achilles’ heel of the cancer field, because of the dearth of tools to fully characterize ITH.
Since 2010, however, there has been an exponential rise in the number of studies exploring ITH owing to innovative technologies and widespread access to these technologies. In recent times, given the availability of tools, the ability to work with big data, and the well-appreciated impact of ITH on clinical outcomes, the ITH field is truly at the frontier of cancer therapeutics and therefore warrants an article collection. The study of ITH helps overcome the tall knowledge barrier presented by traditional assumptions of tumors as homogenous masses and will lay the foundation of how we look at tumors from here on. Through this Research Topic, we will highlight work that serves to quantify, discuss, and contextualize intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) across cancer subtypes. This collection will call attention to this critical field; encourage the discussion on challenges and limitations, especially through reviews and perspectives; and highlight lessons on ITH and its clinical impact across cancer types, thereby enabling interdisciplinary knowledge transfer.
Researchers are encouraged to submit Original Research articles, Reviews, Mini-reviews, Systematic Reviews, Case Reports, Perspectives, Short communications, Opinions, Study Protocols, and Methods relevant to this article collection that will cover topics such as (but not limited to):
- Utilization of ITH data in treatment decision-making or prognosis prediction
- Utilization of ITH data to characterize tumor evolution
- Utilization of ITH data to characterize tumor microenvironment and cell-cell interactions
- Innovative technologies and bioinformatics tools
Keywords:
cancer heterogeneity, intratumor heterogeneity, omics, therapy resistance, tumor evolution, clonal lineage, single-cell transcriptomics, precision medicine
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.