About this Research Topic
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) have emerged as integral components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), significantly influencing tumor progression and the efficacy of immunotherapy in solid tumors. These ectopic lymphoid aggregates, resembling secondary lymphoid organs, are often found in solid tumors and are associated with immune activation, tumor control, and enhanced survival rates across various cancer types. The heterogeneity, characterized by differences in structure, cellular makeup, spatial arrangement, and functionality, profoundly affects their role within the TME and their effectiveness as predictors of immunotherapy outcomes.
Despite growing recognition of TLS as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target, the mechanisms driving TLS formation, maintenance, and functional regulation remain insufficiently understood. The heterogeneity of TLS poses significant challenges for their integration into precision oncology, as not all TLS are equally beneficial for anti-tumor immunity. Understanding how TLS heterogeneity influences the immune landscape of the TME and therapeutic sensitivity or resistance is critical for leveraging their full potential in cancer treatment.
This Research Topic aims to bridge significant knowledge gaps regarding the variability of TLS and their complex roles within the TME and in response to immunotherapy in solid tumors. Despite their association with favorable anti-tumor immunity and therapeutic outcomes, the variability in TLS structure and function presents challenges in their application as dependable biomarkers or therapeutic targets. The objective is to elucidate the mechanisms that govern the formation, maturation, and functional diversity of TLS, and their interactions with other TME components, thereby enhancing the strategic application of TLS knowledge to improve outcomes in immunotherapy and precision oncology for solid tumors.
To gather further insights into how TLS heterogeneity influences the immune landscape and treatment responses, we welcome submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
o Mechanisms underlying TLS formation, maturation, and functional regulation in solid tumors.
o The impact of TLS heterogeneity on immune cell recruitment, activation, and anti-tumor responses.
o Multi-omics and advanced imaging techniques to analyze TLS composition, structure, and dynamics within the TME.
o The relationships between TLS and other TME elements, including stromal cells, vasculature, and immunosuppressive factors.
o The identification of TLS-associated biomarkers for predicting the outcomes of immunotherapy.
o Therapeutic strategies to modify TLS for better immune responses and to counteract resistance to immunotherapy.
o Comparative analyses of TLS across different cancer types and their clinical implications.
We invite original research, review articles, perspectives, and methodological papers that offer fresh insights into the biology of TLS and the translational potential for enhancing cancer immunotherapy.
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.
Despite growing recognition of TLS as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target, the mechanisms driving TLS formation, maintenance, and functional regulation remain insufficiently understood. The heterogeneity of TLS poses significant challenges for their integration into precision oncology, as not all TLS are equally beneficial for anti-tumor immunity. Understanding how TLS heterogeneity influences the immune landscape of the TME and therapeutic sensitivity or resistance is critical for leveraging their full potential in cancer treatment.
This Research Topic aims to bridge significant knowledge gaps regarding the variability of TLS and their complex roles within the TME and in response to immunotherapy in solid tumors. Despite their association with favorable anti-tumor immunity and therapeutic outcomes, the variability in TLS structure and function presents challenges in their application as dependable biomarkers or therapeutic targets. The objective is to elucidate the mechanisms that govern the formation, maturation, and functional diversity of TLS, and their interactions with other TME components, thereby enhancing the strategic application of TLS knowledge to improve outcomes in immunotherapy and precision oncology for solid tumors.
To gather further insights into how TLS heterogeneity influences the immune landscape and treatment responses, we welcome submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
o Mechanisms underlying TLS formation, maturation, and functional regulation in solid tumors.
o The impact of TLS heterogeneity on immune cell recruitment, activation, and anti-tumor responses.
o Multi-omics and advanced imaging techniques to analyze TLS composition, structure, and dynamics within the TME.
o The relationships between TLS and other TME elements, including stromal cells, vasculature, and immunosuppressive factors.
o The identification of TLS-associated biomarkers for predicting the outcomes of immunotherapy.
o Therapeutic strategies to modify TLS for better immune responses and to counteract resistance to immunotherapy.
o Comparative analyses of TLS across different cancer types and their clinical implications.
We invite original research, review articles, perspectives, and methodological papers that offer fresh insights into the biology of TLS and the translational potential for enhancing cancer immunotherapy.
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.
Keywords: Tertiary Lymphoid Structures (TLS), Tumor Microenvironment (TME), Immunotherapy, Solid Tumor, Target Exploration
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.
