Tumor Microenvironment in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Biology and Oncology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: head and neck oncology; cell culture; PCR; immunofluorescence; RNA isolation; transfection; cell line culture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: therapy resistance; head and neck surgery; epithelial mesenchymal transition; extracellular vesicles; cancer stem cells
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; fibroblasts; chemokines; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; curcumin; tumor progression
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a major clinical challenge due to its high heterogeneity, frequent late-stage diagnosis, and resistance to conventional therapies. Central to its pathogenesis is the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is a complex and dynamic network composed of cancer cells, stromal cells, immune infiltrates, extracellular matrix components, and signaling molecules. This environment plays a crucial role in modulating tumor growth, invasion, immune escape, and therapy resistance.
Exosomes, which are small extracellular vesicles released by both tumor and stromal cells, have gained increasing attention as key players in cell-to-cell communication within the TME. They carry bioactive molecules such as proteins, RNAs, and microRNAs that can reshape the immune response, promote angiogenesis, support metastatic spread, and mediate drug resistance. Exosomes also offer potential as non-invasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Understanding the cellular and molecular interactions within the TME, including the roles of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), immune checkpoints, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), is essential for advancing precision medicine in HNSCC.
The current Special Issue invites contributions focused on the molecular and cellular components of the TME in HNSCC, aiming to uncover novel insights for improved prognosis and therapeutic innovation.
Dr. Julia Federspiel
Dr. Teresa Steinbichler
Dr. Jozsef Dudas
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- tumor microenvironment
- exosomes
- biomarkers
- tumor progression
- metastatic niche
- immune evasion
- head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
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