About this Research Topic

Background

The adaptive immune resistance (AIR) mechanism refers to the various strategies employed by tumours to adapt and ultimately to overcome immune attack. The AIR mechanism was firstly identified in the selective induction of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PDL1) by interferon gamma of tumors. The inhibition of adaptive immune resistance underlies the responses to PD-1 or PD-L1–blocking antibodies, and may have relevance for the development of other cancer immunotherapy strategies. Therefore, identifying specific AIR mechanisms is of great significance to develop novel drugs and enhance the efficacy of cancer treatment.

In this research topic, we aim to generate a collection of articles that discuss the AIR mechanisms, the classification of AIRs, and the current and future cancer therapy strategies based on AIR. Of particular, these articles can focus on exploring the AIR mechanisms in different cancer types and further identify the association between AIR and tumour microenvironment (TME).

In this research topic, we welcome Reviews, Original Research Articles as well as Perspective, Clinical Trial and Systematic Review articles, which discuss the adaptive immune resistance in cancer therapy. We aim to gain an in-depth understanding of specific and novel AIR mechanisms in different cancer types as well as future drug development.

Areas to be covered in this research topic may include, but are not limited to:

• The AIR-based molecular and cellular pathways mediating immune escape in certain cancer types (e.g. NSCLC).
• The identification of novel classification of AIRs in certain cancer types.
• The AIR-based biomarkers of cancer diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
• Applications of AIR-based combination therapy.
• Mechanism and reversal strategy of AIR induced by combination therapy (Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, anti-angiogenic therapy, TKI, etc) based on immunotherapy
• Acquired and intrinsic mechanism and phenotypes of AIRs

Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.

Keywords: Adaptive immune resistance, immune evasion, immunotherapy, cancer therapy

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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