The Bone Marrow Microenvironment in Myelodysplastic Syndromes—Pathogenesis, Immune Evasion, and Therapeutic Opportunities
A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Tumor Microenvironment".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 April 2026 | Viewed by 296
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematopoietic disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, bone marrow dysplasia, and a risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia. Emerging evidence has underscored the crucial role of the bone marrow microenvironment (BMME) not only as a passive background but as an active participant in disease initiation, maintenance, and progression. The BMME—a complex network of mesenchymal stromal cells, endothelial cells, immune components, and extracellular matrix—is profoundly disrupted in MDS. Dysregulated stromal support, persistent inflammatory cytokine signalling, and immunological dysfunction contribute to the apoptosis of progenitor cell and selective pressure favoring malignant clonal expansion.
This Special Issue aims to explore the multifaceted alterations of the BMME in MDS, including stromal cell dysfunction, inflammatory milieu (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α), immune escape via the overexpression of CD47, and the suppression of “eat-me” signals such as calreticulin. We welcome original research and reviews that focus on molecular mechanisms, in vivo modelling, immunotherapeutic approaches, and stromal-targeting interventions that could restore normal hematopoiesis or reverse immune evasion in MDS.
This Special Issue seeks to stimulate a cross-disciplinary dialogue between hematologists, immunologists, and cancer biologists, and to provide an overview of recent advances in MDS pathophysiology and therapy by focusing on the tumor-supportive ecosystem of the bone marrow.
Prof. Dr. Ciro Roberto Rinaldi
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- myelodysplastic syndromes
- bone marrow microenvironment
- hematopoietic stem cells
- mesenchymal stromal cells
- immune evasion
- CD47
- calreticulin
- inflammatory cytokines
- clonal hematopoiesis
- microenvironment-targeted therapy
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