Cancer cells dynamically interact with the surrounding stroma and inflammatory cells, establishing a reciprocal relationship. Inflammation is now recognized as a pivotal factor in the etiology and progression of cancer, with chronic inflammation states being a known carcinogen. The inflammatory environment sculpts a tumor microenvironment that facilitates tumor initiation, growth, and metastasis. In the context of ulcerative colitis (UC) and colorectal cancer (CRC), the ecosystem of inflammation and cancer is more pronounced. After all, the inflammatory microenvironment is most evident in the gastrointestinal tract, where the gut microbiome represents a critical regulatory hub in the complex interplay between inflammation and cancer development.

In recent years, there has been a boom in the research of UC and CRC. In the malignant transformation from UC to CRC, processes include providing a survival advantage for cell proliferation through genetic or epigenetic alterations conducive to malignancy, tissue remodeling as a fertile ground for malignant cells, generating oxidative stress to induce mutation for a neoplastic state, secreting cytokines and chemokines beneficial for premalignant cells, altering cellular signaling pathways, inducing genetic instability and epigenetic changes, enhancing the ability to evade immune surveillance, and contributing to cancer stem cell enrichment, among other factors.

Meanwhile, clinical studies delving into the specifics of carcinogenesis patterns, pathogenesis, and molecular traits are yielding invaluable insights into the prognosis and treatment of patients with UC and CRC. The present topic also encompasses cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), which have been witnessing remarkable advancements and transforming various scientific disciplines. We advocate for research initiatives that intersect AI with UC and CRC studies, as such interdisciplinary approaches hold the promise of unveiling innovative frontiers in biomedical sciences.

Our research endeavor is centered on elucidating and harnessing the intricate interplay among UC, CRC, inflammation, and cancer, with a particular emphasis on the malignant transformation process. Furthermore, our study underscores the critical significance of integrating sophisticated technologies, notably AI, to catalyze innovation and advance the frontiers of biomedical research. By employing a multidisciplinary approach that merges AI with UC and CRC research, we aim to uncover novel insights and develop transformative therapeutic strategies that address complex biological challenges.

The present topic focuses on the ecosystem of inflammation and cancer in UC and CRC and includes the bullet points below, which are also the specific themes we would like contributors to address:

i. The role of macromolecules, such as polysaccharides, lipids, and exosomes, in the ecosystem of inflammation and cancer in UC and CRC.
ii. Comprehensive mechanistic investigations across a spectrum of areas, including but not limited to, genetic and epigenetic landscapes, microbiome dysregulation, immune dysregulation, and metabolism-related alterations, among others.
iii. Cutting-edge technologies, such as data mining techniques, machine learning and deep learning, multi-scale interaction omics, phenotype-based screening, drug repurposing, drug discovery and design through AI, genomics and precision medicine, bioinformatics and systems biology, immunoinformatics, nanotechnology in drug delivery, artificial tissue and organ engineering, quantitative systems pharmacology, and synthetic biology.

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