About this Research Topic
In the realm of oncology, the concept of 'metabolic rewiring' has expanded beyond aerobic glycolysis to encompass various metabolic strategies that cancer cells employ for survival and progression, including oxidative phosphorylation and β-oxidation of fatty acids. The tumor microenvironment (TME) profoundly influences these metabolic adaptations through a dynamic interplay among different cellular constituents and the cancer cells themselves. The TME not only fosters these metabolic shifts but also initiates metabolic changes that drive cancer progression. Despite growing insights, the intricate molecular mechanisms underpinning this metabolic reorchestration by the TME remain incompletely understood, presenting a compelling case for more targeted research to identify novel therapeutic opportunities.
This research topic aims to amass a collection of original studies that further illuminate the processes of tumor metabolic alterations instigated by the TME. A significant focus will be on the role played by immune components within the TME, which influence cancer cell metabolism and present altered metabolic states themselves. Current investigations have begun to uncover some of the molecular pathways and signaling networks involved, especially how they interact within various cancer types, but considerable gaps remain particularly in relation to the immune cells' role in metabolic reprogramming, cancer progression, and therapy resistance.
To advance our understanding and therapeutic potential in this area, we encourage submissions that explore, but are not limited to, the following themes:
o Nutrient competition, including amino acids, lipids, and glucose, by immune cells in the TME.
o The remodeling of the TME by cytokines and growth factors to support tumor development.
o The role of autophagy in supporting tumor cell metabolism and subsequent growth.
o The impact of metabolic alterations on immune cell functionality within the TME and the efficacy of immunotherapy.
o Identification and development of small molecules or repurposed drugs that can disrupt metabolic conduits in the TME.
o Exploration of new therapeutic targets designed to modulate metabolic pathways within the TME.
Please note that manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this Research Topic.
This research topic aims to amass a collection of original studies that further illuminate the processes of tumor metabolic alterations instigated by the TME. A significant focus will be on the role played by immune components within the TME, which influence cancer cell metabolism and present altered metabolic states themselves. Current investigations have begun to uncover some of the molecular pathways and signaling networks involved, especially how they interact within various cancer types, but considerable gaps remain particularly in relation to the immune cells' role in metabolic reprogramming, cancer progression, and therapy resistance.
To advance our understanding and therapeutic potential in this area, we encourage submissions that explore, but are not limited to, the following themes:
o Nutrient competition, including amino acids, lipids, and glucose, by immune cells in the TME.
o The remodeling of the TME by cytokines and growth factors to support tumor development.
o The role of autophagy in supporting tumor cell metabolism and subsequent growth.
o The impact of metabolic alterations on immune cell functionality within the TME and the efficacy of immunotherapy.
o Identification and development of small molecules or repurposed drugs that can disrupt metabolic conduits in the TME.
o Exploration of new therapeutic targets designed to modulate metabolic pathways within the TME.
Please note that manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this Research Topic.
Keywords: Cancer Metabolism, Metabolic Reprogramming, Tumor Microenvironment, Tumor-Stroma crosstalk, Tumor Immune Microenvironment
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.
