The Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Activation and Regulation of Signaling Pathways in Cancer

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 3212

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biotechnology Chemistry & Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
Interests: macrophages; tumor microenvironment; MAPK; scaffold molecules; drug resistance; inflammation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer is a complex and multifaceted disease, with signaling pathways playing a crucial role in its development and progression. In this Special Issue, we aim to explore the intricate molecular mechanisms that underlie the activation and regulation of signaling pathways in cancer.

We invite leading researchers, experts, and scholars in the field to contribute their valuable insights and research findings to this Special Issue. By bringing together a collection of high-quality contributions, this special Issue aims to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying signaling pathway dysregulation in cancer and provide insights into potential therapeutic interventions. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that delve into the molecular basis of signaling pathways in cancer, including, but not limited to, the following topics:

  • Key signaling pathways implicated in cancer development and progression;
  • Crosstalk and interactions between different signaling pathways in cancer cells;
  • Post-translational modifications and their impact on signaling pathway activation in cancer;
  • Molecular regulators and modulators of signaling pathway activity in cancer;
  • Novel therapeutic targets and strategies based on signaling pathway dysregulation in cancer.

Dr. Emanuele Giurisato
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • activation
  • regulation
  • signaling pathways
  • cancer
  • post-translational modifications
  • molecular regulators
  • therapeutic targets
  • signaling pathway dysregulation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

25 pages, 1116 KiB  
Review
Insights into CSF-1R Expression in the Tumor Microenvironment
by Caterina Tomassetti, Gaia Insinga, Francesca Gimigliano, Andrea Morrione, Antonio Giordano and Emanuele Giurisato
Biomedicines 2024, 12(10), 2381; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12102381 - 18 Oct 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2727
Abstract
The colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R) plays a pivotal role in orchestrating cellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Although the CSF-1R has been extensively studied in myeloid cells, the expression of this receptor and its emerging role in other cell types in [...] Read more.
The colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R) plays a pivotal role in orchestrating cellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Although the CSF-1R has been extensively studied in myeloid cells, the expression of this receptor and its emerging role in other cell types in the TME need to be further analyzed. This review explores the multifaceted functions of the CSF-1R across various TME cellular populations, including tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), dendritic cells (DCs), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells (ECs), and cancer stem cells (CSCs). The activation of the CSF-1R by its ligands, colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) and Interleukin-34 (IL-34), regulates TAM polarization towards an immunosuppressive M2 phenotype, promoting tumor progression and immune evasion. Similarly, CSF-1R signaling influences MDSCs to exert immunosuppressive functions, hindering anti-tumor immunity. In DCs, the CSF-1R alters antigen-presenting capabilities, compromising immune surveillance against cancer cells. CSF-1R expression in CAFs and ECs regulates immune modulation, angiogenesis, and immune cell trafficking within the TME, fostering a pro-tumorigenic milieu. Notably, the CSF-1R in CSCs contributes to tumor aggressiveness and therapeutic resistance through interactions with TAMs and the modulation of stemness features. Understanding the diverse roles of the CSF-1R in the TME underscores its potential as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment, aiming at disrupting pro-tumorigenic cellular crosstalk and enhancing anti-tumor immune responses. Full article
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