About this Research Topic

Background

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in cancer progression and response to therapy. Within this complex milieu, immunological niches are specialized microenvironments that support the survival, differentiation, and function of immune cells, profoundly influencing tumor immunity. These niches are formed through intricate interactions between tumor cells, immune cells, and stromal cells, mediated by various cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules. The stability and functionality of these niches can be altered by suppressive factors such as TGF-β and IL-10, contributing to tumor immune evasion. Tumor-associated stromal cells also play a critical role in shaping these niches, further complicating the immune landscape of the TME. Key components of immunological niches include tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), immune checkpoint niches, cytokine and chemokine niches, stromal and fibroblastic niches, metabolic niches, epigenetic niches, and microbiome-associated niches. Understanding the formation and regulation of these niches is crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies. Understanding the formation and regulation of immunological niches is crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies. Targeting these niches can potentially enhance the efficacy of immunotherapies and improve clinical outcomes. This Research Topic aims to explore the clinical value, molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the formation of immunological niches, their impact on tumor immune evasion, and the development of novel therapeutic approaches to modulate these niches.

The primary goal of this Research Topic is to deepen our understanding of the formation and function of immunological niches within the tumor microenvironment and their role in cancer progression and immune evasion. By elucidating the clinical value, molecular, and cellular mechanisms that govern these niches, we aim to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets that can enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. This Research Topic seeks to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and generate innovative approaches to modulate immunological niches, ultimately improving patient outcomes and advancing personalized medicine in oncology. Moreover, the treatment, including chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, also can be compared, and find novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

We invite researchers to contribute original research, review articles, and perspectives that address the following themes:
1. Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Immunological Niche Formation: a. Interactions between immune cells, tumor cells, and stromal cells b. The clinical value of these markers; c. Key molecules involved in niche formation and maintenance
2. Influence of the Tumor Microenvironment on Immunological Niches: a. Effects of suppressive factors on niche stability and function b. Role of tumor-associated stromal cells
3. Immunological Niches and Tumor Immune Evasion:
a. Contribution of aberrant niche formation to immune evasion b. Mechanisms of tumor-induced niche modifications
4. Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Immunological Niches: a. Novel approaches to enhance niche formation and function b. Combination therapies to improve immunotherapy efficacy
5. Clinical Translation and Biomarkers: a. Biomarkers for predicting immunotherapy responses and monitoring efficacy b. Translational strategies for personalized treatment plans c. Combined with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, to explore the biomarkers to predict the prognosis for different tumors, such as breast cancer, gastrointestinal tumors, and melanoma

Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent clinical or patient cohort, or biological validation in vitro or in vivo, which are not based on public databases) are not suitable for publication in this journal.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Tumor Microenvironment, Immunological Niches, Immune Evasion, Immunotherapy, Cytokines, Chemokines, Stromal Cells, Biomarkers, Therapeutic Targets, Personalized 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.

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