Contents
Special Issue Topic

Therapeutic Targeting of the Tumor Microenvironment

Guest Editor

Dr. Sufi Thomas E-Mail

Department of Otolaryngology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA

Research Keywords: Tumor microenvironment; tumor associated stroma; cancer associated fibroblasts; immunosuppression; experimental therapeutics; tumor progression; cancer therapy

About the Special lssue

Cancer continues to be one of the most life threatening, and devastating pathologies faced by mankind. With an increasing incidence over time, there is a great need for effective therapies with minimal side effects. The role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in tumor progression and response to therapy has become evident in the last few decades. From acellular components, immune cells, vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells, cancer associated fibroblasts, and more recently, neuronal cells, adipocytes and the microbiome, the complex tumor-stromal interactions open new possibilities for targeted therapies. 

The advent of single cell sequencing and other medium to high throughput assays have accelerated the field uncovering key tumor-stroma molecular dependencies. Still in a relatively nascent phase, most of published literature includes studies with individual TME cell types or secreted components in relation to tumors. The concerted role of all TME players on tumor cells is an area that needs to be further developed. Preclinical animal models including transgenic, immunocompetent, and humanized mice coupled with xenograft, syngeneic and patient derived tumors provide platforms to test these new therapeutic approaches. The next few decades hold tremendous promise in the development of precision approaches for cancer therapy that target individual components of the TME. 

Keywords: Tumor microenvironment; experimental therapeutics; cancer therapy; personalized medicine; targeted therapy; single cell sequencing; preclinical models; organotypic models

Published Articles

Open Access Mini Review
Exploring the function of myeloid cells in promoting metastasis in head and neck cancer
Dakota Dike Dimegwu Okwuone ... Gregory N. Gan
Published: February 19, 2024 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2024;5:108–119
3137 30 1
Open Access Review
Role of STAT3 in pancreatic cancer
Zachary Hamel ... Shrikant Anant
Published: January 17, 2024 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2024;5:20–33
2430 40 10
Open Access Perspective
Cholesterol esterification and p53-mediated tumor suppression
Youjun Li ... Edward V. Prochownik
Published: October 31, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:1122–1127
1936 29 1
Open Access Review
Molecular interaction of metastasis suppressor genes and tumor microenvironment in breast cancer
Sathammai Sathappa Supuramanian ... Sitaram Harihar
Published: October 11, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:912–932
1909 34 1
Open Access Review
Glucose metabolism reprogramming promotes immune escape of hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Qiuyue Zhang ... Mengsen Li
Published: June 30, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:519–536
2378 36 2