Role of Myeloid Cells in the Regulation of Cancer Onset and Development
A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Tumor Microenvironment".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 6
Special Issue Editor
Interests: pprimary myelofibrosis; myeloproliferative neoplasms; vascular endothelial growth factor; immunomodulation; chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms; inflammation; myeloid derived suppressor cells, endothelial cells, myeloid cells
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Myeloid cells represent a major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and are critically involved in the regulation of tumor progression and metastasis. In recent years, single-cell profiling has identified multiple phenotypically distinct subpopulations of myeloid cells together with a pathological state of the activation of these cells due to the continuous stimulation of the myeloid compartment in various pathologic conditions, including cancer.
Pathologically activated myeloid cells have several major features: (1) potent suppressive activity of various functions of T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and B cells; (2) distinct transcriptional and proteomic profiles, biochemical characteristics, and some phenotypic markers; and (3) support of metastasis via the production of cytokines that promote tissue remodeling and angiogenesis. Moreover, tumor-promoting inflammation and the escape from immune destruction are hallmarks of cancer.
While innate immune cells, such as neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages, are essential mediators for sterile and nonsterile inflammation, persistent inflammation, such as that which occurs in cancer, is known to interfere with normal myelopoiesis. This disturbance leads to the generation of immunosuppressive myeloid cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Although the physiopathology of MDSCs is still partially elusive, there is common agreement that these cells contribute to tumors’ pathogenesis through their immunosuppressive and pro-neoangiogenic activities.
Preclinical and translational studies have now elucidated specific functions of different myeloid cell subpopulations within the TME, revealing context-specific roles of different myeloid cell populations in disease progression and influencing responses to therapy. In contrast, it is still challenging to alleviate immunosuppression by targeting MDSCs and/or TAMs. This problem might be explained by various factors, including the high turnover of myeloid cells, functional compensation among different myeloid subsets, and myeloid cell heterogeneity as well as plasticity.
In this Special Issue of Cancers, we welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that provide an overview of the most recent advances involving the role of myeloid cells in hematological malignancies and solid cancers. Proposed submission topics could include (but are not limited to) the following:
(1) Autocrine/paracrine mechanisms that link myeloid cells and the inflammatory milieu;
(2) Involvement of myeloid cells (such as MDSCs, TAMs, etc.) in angiogenesis and metastasis propagation;
(3) Preclinical studies on myeloid cells as therapeutic targets.
Dr. Rita Campanelli
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- myeloid cells
- myeloid-derived suppressor cells
- hematological malignancies
- solid cancers
- inflammation
- angiogenesis
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