• Special Issue Topic

    Therapeutic Targeting of the Tumor Microenvironment

    Submission Deadline: June 30, 2023

    Guest Editor

    Dr. Sufi Thomas E-Mail

    Department of Otolaryngology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA

    Research Keywords: Tumor microenvironment; tumor associated stroma; cancer associated fibroblasts; immunosuppression; experimental therapeutics; tumor progression; cancer therapy


    About the Special Issue

    Cancer continues to be one of the most life threatening, and devastating pathologies faced by mankind. With an increasing incidence over time, there is a great need for effective therapies with minimal side effects. The role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in tumor progression and response to therapy has become evident in the last few decades. From acellular components, immune cells, vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells, cancer associated fibroblasts, and more recently, neuronal cells, adipocytes and the microbiome, the complex tumor-stromal interactions open new possibilities for targeted therapies. 

    The advent of single cell sequencing and other medium to high throughput assays have accelerated the field uncovering key tumor-stroma molecular dependencies. Still in a relatively nascent phase, most of published literature includes studies with individual TME cell types or secreted components in relation to tumors. The concerted role of all TME players on tumor cells is an area that needs to be further developed. Preclinical animal models including transgenic, immunocompetent, and humanized mice coupled with xenograft, syngeneic and patient derived tumors provide platforms to test these new therapeutic approaches. The next few decades hold tremendous promise in the development of precision approaches for cancer therapy that target individual components of the TME. 

    Keywords: Tumor microenvironment; experimental therapeutics; cancer therapy; personalized medicine; targeted therapy; single cell sequencing; preclinical models; organotypic models

    Published Articles

    Open Access
    Mini Review
    Exploring the function of myeloid cells in promoting metastasis in head and neck cancer
    Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a challenging disease that lacks effective treatment, particularly in the cases that spread locoregionally and metastasize distantly, dramatically reducing patient surv [...] Read more.
    Dakota Dike Dimegwu Okwuone ... Gregory N. Gan
    Published: February 19, 2024 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2024;5:108–119
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/etat.2024.00208
    View:2133
    Download:24
    Times Cited: 0
    Open Access
    Review
    Role of STAT3 in pancreatic cancer
    Pancreatic cancer remains a serious and deadly disease, impacting people globally. There remain prominent gaps in the current understanding of the disease, specifically regarding the role of the sig [...] Read more.
    Zachary Hamel ... Shrikant Anant
    Published: January 17, 2024 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2024;5:20–33
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/etat.2024.00202
    View:1255
    Download:30
    Times Cited: 0
    Open Access
    Original Article
    Acryl-3,5-bis(2,4-difluorobenzylidene)-4-piperidone targeting cellular JUN proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit inhibits head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression
    Aim: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the seventh most common cancer worldwide with a survival rate below fifty percent. Addressing meager therapeutic options, a series of small m [...] Read more.
    Levi Arnold ... Sufi Mary Thomas
    Published: October 31, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:1104–1121
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/etat.2023.00184
    View:1654
    Download:85
    Times Cited: 0
    Open Access
    Perspective
    Cholesterol esterification and p53-mediated tumor suppression
    Many human cancers carry missense mutations in or deletions of the tumor protein 53 (TP53) tumor suppressor gene. TP53’s product, p53 regulates many biological processes, including cell metabolism [...] Read more.
    Youjun Li ... Edward V. Prochownik
    Published: October 31, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:1122–1127
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/etat.2023.00185
    View:1219
    Download:26
    Times Cited: 0
    Open Access
    Review
    Molecular interaction of metastasis suppressor genes and tumor microenvironment in breast cancer
    Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide where the process of metastasis is a major contributor to the mortality associated with this disease. Metastasis sup [...] Read more.
    Sathammai Sathappa Supuramanian ... Sitaram Harihar
    Published: October 11, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:912–932
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/etat.2023.00173
    View:1273
    Download:29
    Times Cited: 0
    Open Access
    Review
    Type 1 and type 2 cytokine-mediated immune orchestration in the tumour microenvironment and their therapeutic potential
    Cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide despite modern breakthroughs in medicine, and novel treatments are urgently needed. The revolutionary success of immune checkpoint inhibito [...] Read more.
    Eric Jou
    Published: June 30, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:474–497
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/etat.2023.00146
    View:1279
    Download:30
    Open Access
    Review
    Glucose metabolism reprogramming promotes immune escape of hepatocellular carcinoma cells
    Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex process that plays an important role in its progression. Abnormal glucose metabolism in HCC cells can meet the nutrients required for the occurrence and d [...] Read more.
    Qiuyue Zhang ... Mengsen Li
    Published: June 30, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:519–536
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/etat.2023.00149
    View:1436
    Download:30