New Advances in Metastasis and Therapy: Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment
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: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 16
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and dynamic ecosystem that surrounds and interacts with cancer cells. Comprised of various non-cancerous cells—like fibroblasts, immune cells, and nerve endings—and non-cellular components such as the extracellular matrix and growth factors, the TME is crucial for every stage of cancer, particularly metastasis. It supports tumor growth by promoting cell proliferation, survival, metabolic reprogramming, and immune evasion. The TME also facilitates the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is a key process for a tumor to begin metastasizing. By understanding and targeting these TME components and their interactions, we can potentially impede tumor growth, disrupt the metastatic cascade, and improve patient outcomes. Unlike genetically unstable cancer cells, the non-cancerous cells within the TME are more stable, making them a less elusive and potentially more effective target for long-term therapeutic strategies. Over the last decade, we have seen several promising developments in this area. A major focus has been on harnessing the immune system through advancements in cell and gene therapies, such as CAR-T and CAR-NK cells. There is also growing interest in combination therapies that pair traditional immunotherapies with agents that remodel the TME. Other emerging areas include the development of nanomedicines for precise drug delivery and the use of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies like single-cell analysis to identify new targets. Despite these exciting advances, various challenges persist. The TME's inherent heterogeneity and plasticity make it a difficult target. Its unique components, such as hypoxic conditions, an acidic pH, and metabolic competition, promote cellular plasticity, immune evasion, and therapy resistance. Targeting these cellular components and their interactions without causing widespread systemic toxicity is a daunting task that demands a detailed understanding of their vulnerabilities. Additionally, the development of robust biomarkers to predict patient response to TME-targeted therapies is still in its early stages. Overcoming these challenges will require novel approaches that can precisely target the TME while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. This Special Issue, "New Advances in Metastasis and Therapy: Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment," published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, focuses on understanding the TME's dynamics and ways to target it, as well as developing biomarkers to predict and monitor therapeutic responses for personalized cancer treatment.
Dr. Ravi Thakur
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- cellular crosstalk
- growth factors and cytokines
- metastatic cascade
- metabolic reprogramming
- targeting tumor microenvironment
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