Gynecologic Oncology: Tumor Microenvironment and Novel Therapeutics
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2025) | Viewed by 695
Special Issue Editor
Interests: reproductive cancers; ovarian cancer; extracellular matrix; tumor microenviroment; chemotherapy resistance; biomarkers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The tumor microenvironment (TME)—composed of blood vessels, immune cells, stem cells, fibroblasts, and the extracellular matrix (ECM)—has increasingly implicated as a key controlling factor in tumor progression and therapy resistance. The primary microenvironment for ovarian cancer cells at the metastatic site is the peritoneum, a single layer of epithelial cells covering the abdominal cavity and its organs. Implantation and invasion occur within a tumor–host interface where cancer and peritoneal cells exchange proteins and peptides, which modify the local ECM and promote metastasis. Malignant ascites is a unique TME present in more than one-third of ovarian cancer patients at initial diagnosis and in almost all cases of relapse. Ascites contain multicellular spheroids that are enriched in cancer stem-like cells and contribute to ovarian cancer metastasis and chemotherapy resistance. The ascites fluid also provides an immunosuppressive peritoneal TME that helps cancer cells evade immune surveillance and promotes tumor growth and metastasis. This research topic aims to generate a discussion around the current research and understanding of cancer cell-TME interactions and novel therapeutic strategies targeting the TME. We encourage and invite ovarian cancer and other gynecological cancer researchers to contribute original research articles or review articles.
Dr. Carmela Ricciardelli
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- tumor microenvironment
- peritoneal-cancer cell interactions
- extracellular matrix
- ascites
- immune cells
- cancer-associated fibroblasts
- immunotherapy
- novel therapeutic targets
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