The concept of ‘metabolic rewiring’ in cancer, initially only related to the switch towards aerobics glycolysis, has evolved to include also other metabolic processes that cancer cells can ‘hijack’, including oxidative phosphorylation, β-oxidation of fatty acids, to achieve progression and increased survival. These derangements are usually coupled with alterations in the tumor microenvironment (TME): both in the balance of its several components, and in the crosstalk between said components and the cancer cells. Moreover, the TME can directly initiate changes in metabolism, driving the cancer cell progression. The molecular mechanisms of this rewiring by the TME are not fully understood thus further studies on this topic are required. They may also uncover new targets and therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.
The main goal of this research topic is to collect original papers providing additional insights on the mechanism of tumor metabolism alterations triggered by the TME, both in vitro and in vivo and identifying new potential therapeutic targets. In this regard, recent research has highlighted a role for the immune components of the TME: they can drive the metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, and their metabolism can be altered as well within the TME. Moreover, the metabolism of immune cells in the TME can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. However, the molecular mechanism and the signaling pathways that regulate this complex scenario and the crosstalk between the cancer cells, the TME and the immune cells, are still to be fully clarified, in several types of cancer.
This Research Topic aims to collect original research papers, review articles, case studies and clinical trials which deal with the many aspects that characterize the interactions between cancer cells and the components of the TME, including cells residing or migrating in the TME with a special focus on the immune cells. Specifically, the main goal of this Research Topic is to investigate the role of immune cells in cancer progression and in the resistance to therapy.
Manuscripts focusing on the following sub-topics, but not limited to them, are welcome:
• Competition for nutrients (amino acids, lipids, glucose, etc) by immune cells for their function in the TME
• Cytokines and growth factors remodelling of the TME for tumour development
• Autophagy in the TME to support the tumour cells metabolism and growth
• Metabolic alterations conditioning immune cells function in the TME and immunotherapy efficacy
• Molecules (small molecules, repurposed drugs etc) capable to counteract the metabolic rewiring in the TME
• Therapeutic targets to modulate metabolism in 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.
The concept of ‘metabolic rewiring’ in cancer, initially only related to the switch towards aerobics glycolysis, has evolved to include also other metabolic processes that cancer cells can ‘hijack’, including oxidative phosphorylation, β-oxidation of fatty acids, to achieve progression and increased survival. These derangements are usually coupled with alterations in the tumor microenvironment (TME): both in the balance of its several components, and in the crosstalk between said components and the cancer cells. Moreover, the TME can directly initiate changes in metabolism, driving the cancer cell progression. The molecular mechanisms of this rewiring by the TME are not fully understood thus further studies on this topic are required. They may also uncover new targets and therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.
The main goal of this research topic is to collect original papers providing additional insights on the mechanism of tumor metabolism alterations triggered by the TME, both in vitro and in vivo and identifying new potential therapeutic targets. In this regard, recent research has highlighted a role for the immune components of the TME: they can drive the metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, and their metabolism can be altered as well within the TME. Moreover, the metabolism of immune cells in the TME can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. However, the molecular mechanism and the signaling pathways that regulate this complex scenario and the crosstalk between the cancer cells, the TME and the immune cells, are still to be fully clarified, in several types of cancer.
This Research Topic aims to collect original research papers, review articles, case studies and clinical trials which deal with the many aspects that characterize the interactions between cancer cells and the components of the TME, including cells residing or migrating in the TME with a special focus on the immune cells. Specifically, the main goal of this Research Topic is to investigate the role of immune cells in cancer progression and in the resistance to therapy.
Manuscripts focusing on the following sub-topics, but not limited to them, are welcome:
• Competition for nutrients (amino acids, lipids, glucose, etc) by immune cells for their function in the TME
• Cytokines and growth factors remodelling of the TME for tumour development
• Autophagy in the TME to support the tumour cells metabolism and growth
• Metabolic alterations conditioning immune cells function in the TME and immunotherapy efficacy
• Molecules (small molecules, repurposed drugs etc) capable to counteract the metabolic rewiring in the TME
• Therapeutic targets to modulate metabolism in 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.