Metabolic Dynamics and Immune Surveillance in the Tumor Microenvironment
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 458
Special Issue Editor
Interests: cancer research; tumor microenvironment; therapeutics; molecular signaling; cellular biochemistry; cell death mechanism; cancer metastasis; metabolism; ciliary pathways; endocrinology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex ecosystem where metabolic changes significantly influence tumor growth and immune response. Cancer cells often reprogram their metabolism to support rapid proliferation, creating conditions that not only favor tumor survival but also impair immune cell function, leading to immune evasion. Immune surveillance within the TME is equally influenced by metabolic changes. Immune cells, including T cells and macrophages, rely on specific metabolic pathways to function effectively. The altered metabolic landscape, such as alterations in nutrient availability, oxygen levels, and waste accumulation, influences the function of immune cells within the TME and can hinder immune cell activation, differentiation, and persistence, thus impairing the body's ability to mount an effective anti-tumor immune response. Understanding the interplay between metabolism and immune surveillance in the TME can provide valuable insights into how metabolic alterations influence tumor immunity and resistance to therapies.
This Special Issue will showcase reviews and original research articles focusing on innovative approaches to the metabolic profiling of immune responses, with a particular emphasis on applications in immune-related carcinogenic conditions. Notably, it will explore the essential role of metabolic dynamics within the TME and how they impact immune cell behavior, drawing on insights from cell culture, tumoroid, ex vivo, and animal model studies. Mechanistically, it will highlight how the interplay between metabolism and immune surveillance contributes to immune evasion and tumor progression. Furthermore, this Special Issue will discuss emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting metabolic vulnerabilities within tumors to restore immune function and enhance cancer treatment efficacy. By providing a deeper understanding of these processes, this Special Issue will inspire novel approaches to cancer therapy that leverage both metabolic and immune modulation to achieve improved patient outcomes.
Dr. Jyoti Kaushal
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- cancer
- TME
- metabolism
- immune cells
- signaling pathway
- therapy
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