About this Research Topic
Cancer chemoprevention involves the use of artificial or naturally occurring substances aimed to arrest or reverse the process of carcinogenesis. Numerous agents including dietary phytochemicals, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins and others are thought to possess preventative anti-cancer activities. Paul Ehrlich was the first to devise the idea that the immune system could suppress the increased frequency of carcinomas. This concept was further matured with the formulation of the “Cancer Immunosurveillance” hypothesis by Burnet and Thomas, which encompasses the idea that the immune system can monitor, recognize and destroy transformed cells before they become cancerous. The immunoprevention of cancer refers to strategies that aim to prevent the development of spontaneous or pathogen-induced cancers by using vaccines, antibodies, cell-based therapies and/or other immune modulator agents, including drugs.
The impressive clinical response achieved in some cancer patients treated with novel immunotherapeutic drugs, such as the immune check point inhibitors, has enforced the idea that the immune system plays a crucial roles in cancer surveillance, prevention and elimination. Several studies have revealed that the cancer chemopreventive properties of certain dietary phytochemicals may be associated with their ability to modulate immune responses. In addition, accumulating evidences suggest that clinically-validated cancer chemopreventive agents such as aspirin, COX-2 inhibitors, tamoxifen and bisphosphonates may exert their effects, at least in part, by promoting immunosurveillance.
This Research Topic will highlight recent advances on the endogenous modulation of immune system for cancer chemoprevention. We welcome the submission of Original Research articles encompassing both preclinical and clinical studies, as well as Review and Opinion articles that include, but are not limited to, the following aspects:
1. Dietary phytochemicals and immunomodulation.
2. Effects of cyclooxigenase-2 inhibition on immune cells.
3. The impact of bisphosphonates on immune regulation.
4. Modulation of immune cell function by tamoxifen.
5. Naturally occurring or synthetic drugs capable of strengthen endogenous anti-tumor immune responses.
The impressive clinical response achieved in some cancer patients treated with novel immunotherapeutic drugs, such as the immune check point inhibitors, has enforced the idea that the immune system plays a crucial roles in cancer surveillance, prevention and elimination. Several studies have revealed that the cancer chemopreventive properties of certain dietary phytochemicals may be associated with their ability to modulate immune responses. In addition, accumulating evidences suggest that clinically-validated cancer chemopreventive agents such as aspirin, COX-2 inhibitors, tamoxifen and bisphosphonates may exert their effects, at least in part, by promoting immunosurveillance.
This Research Topic will highlight recent advances on the endogenous modulation of immune system for cancer chemoprevention. We welcome the submission of Original Research articles encompassing both preclinical and clinical studies, as well as Review and Opinion articles that include, but are not limited to, the following aspects:
1. Dietary phytochemicals and immunomodulation.
2. Effects of cyclooxigenase-2 inhibition on immune cells.
3. The impact of bisphosphonates on immune regulation.
4. Modulation of immune cell function by tamoxifen.
5. Naturally occurring or synthetic drugs capable of strengthen endogenous anti-tumor immune responses.
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.
