Cancer Cell Death and Immune Response

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer cell death mechanisms are central to cancer progression and therapy. Regulated cell death, such as apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and immunogenic cell death (ICD), can activate or suppress antitumor immune responses and remodel the TME. This crosstalk influences therapeutic efficacy, resistance, and durability of response. Although major advances have been made, the dual roles of cell death in promoting both tumor regression and progression remain incompletely understood. By clarifying these mechanisms, we can design strategies that favor immunogenic outcomes and strengthen durable cancer immunotherapies. This Special Issue focuses on the molecular and immunological mechanisms of cancer cell death and their impact on antitumor immunity, therapeutic resistance, and the development of immunotherapy. We aim to highlight both fundamental insights and translational advances that connect cell death pathways to immune activation, biomarkers, and clinical application. The topic aligns with the journal scope by advancing an integrated understanding of tumor-immune interactions and mechanism-based treatment design.

Suggested themes and article types include, but are not limited to:

• Mechanistic studies of apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and ICD in cancer
• Impact of cell death pathways on immune cell recruitment, activation, and function
• TME factors that modulate death-immunity crosstalk
• Genetic, epigenetic, metabolic, and stress-response regulators of cancer cell death and immunity
• Therapeutic strategies that target or leverage death pathways, including antibodies, cytokines, and oncolytic approaches
• Combination strategies to induce ICD and overcome primary or acquired resistance
• Biomarkers and pharmacodynamic readouts of cell death and immune activation
• Translational and preclinical studies that advance mechanism-based therapies and clinical trial concepts

Researchers and clinicians are invited to submit original research and review articles that address cellular and immunological dynamics of cancer cell death, translational models, biomarkers, and therapeutic innovations, including rational combinations designed to enhance antitumor immunity.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Seema Singh
Dr. Amod Sharma
Guest Editors

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.