Cancer Metabolism Molecular Insights Metabolic Crosstalk In The Tumor Microenvironment And Implications For Therapy

Cancer metabolism: Molecular insights, metabolic crosstalk in the tumor microenvironment, and implications for therapy

Metabolic Crosstalk between Cancer Cells and Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment: Cellular and Molecular Insights, and their Therapeutic Implications

Metabolic reprogramming and immune evasion are critical hallmarks of cancer. The metabolic reprogramming by cancer cells serves not only to promote their own growth but also to create an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The tumor metabolic microenvironment inhibits antitumor effector functions of immune cells and supports the differentiation and function of suppressive immune cells. Thus, metabolic reprogramming and immune evasion are interdependent features as the cancer cells modulate the tumor microenvironment to establish the metabolic intermediates involved in influencing the immune responses. Because metabolic alterations can regulate the activities and functions of both tumor cells and immune cells, understanding and targeting immune-onco-metabolism could open avenues for improving responses to cancer therapies, including immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy. Inhibition of tumor progression and/or metastasis through metabolic-targeting has been widely explored. The metabolic crosstalk between immune cells and tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment is a decisive factor that is important for understanding tumor biology and identifying vulnerability of cancer cells. This interaction between immune cells and cancer cells is a complex and dynamic process in which immune cells act as a determinant factor of cancer cells’ fate and vice versa. There are some provocative questions that remain to be addressed. How does metabolic reprogramming contribute to an altered immune response against cancer cells? Furthermore, how do immune cells influence cancer cells during cancer progression, metastasis, and therapy? It is critical to understand the cellular, molecular, and biochemical aspects of how cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to overcomplete infiltered immune cells and immune evasion for tumor growth, metastasis, and therapy response. Understanding these processes could generate new therapeutic opportunities for cancer treatment. Also, it is important to understand and identify therapeutic targets that interrupt the cancer-promoting association between cancer cells and the adjacent immune cells, allowing for maximizing benefits of immune checkpoint inhibitors as well as other genetic (targeted therapy) and cellular (such as chemotherapy) therapies. The purpose of this Research Topic is to feature articles focused on various aspects of cancer immune-/onco-/metabolism associated with the tumor microenvironment and their implications in cancer therapy and therapeutic responses. We welcome the submission of Original Research articles, Perspectives, Opinions, Systematic Reviews, Reviews, and Mini Reviews highlighting new advances including but not limited to: -Cellular bioenergetics (such as glucose, fatty acid, and amino acid metabolism) or systemic cancer metabolic dysregulation (like diabetes, obesity, and cancer) and their role in modulating therapeutic responses and immune functions -Mitochondrial metabolism and dysfunction -ROS signaling and redox homeostasis -Signaling pathways involved in regulating the interaction between cancer metabolism and the immune system -Immune metabolism in the tumor microenvironment -Inflammation and cancer metabolism -Innate and adaptive immune response in the tumor microenvironment, modulation of immunotherapeutic responses by cancer metabolism and vice versa And we welcome the submission of Methods articles and Study Protocols including these areas but not limited to: -Any new and advanced method/technology to study metabolism in general -Metabolism in cancer and immune cells and their interactions Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.

Novel Molecular Targets in Cancer Therapy, Volume I

Colon, lung, and liver cancers are among the most prevalent and lethal cancers globally. Despite advancements in treatment, these cancers continue to pose significant challenges due to high mortality rates, late-stage diagnosis, and resistance to conventional therapies. This Research Topic will delve into the identification and therapeutic potential of novel molecular targets in colon and liver cancer, aiming to address these challenges through innovative research and clinical applications. Colon cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, with an estimated 1.8 million new cases and 881,000 deaths annually. The high mortality rate is primarily due to late-stage diagnosis and metastasis, often resulting in limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Standard treatments for colon cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies. While these treatments have improved survival rates, they are often associated with significant side effects and the development of resistance. Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with approximately 905,000 new cases and 830,000 deaths annually. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent type, often diagnosed at an advanced stage, resulting in limited treatment efficacy and high mortality. Treatment options for liver cancer include surgical resection, liver transplantation, ablation, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), systemic chemotherapy, and targeted therapies such as sorafenib and Lenvatinib. Despite these options, the prognosis remains poor due to the aggressive nature of the disease and frequent recurrence. The high mortality and prevalence of colon and liver cancers highlight the urgent need for more effective and less toxic treatment options. Novel molecular targets present a promising avenue for addressing these unmet medical needs by providing more precise and personalized therapeutic strategies. Recent advancements in molecular biology and high-throughput technologies have facilitated the discovery of new molecular targets involved in cancer pathogenesis. Understanding these targets' roles in colon and liver cancer progression can lead to the development of innovative therapies that specifically target cancer cells while sparing normal tissues. Targeting novel molecular targets can improve treatment outcomes by overcoming resistance to current therapies, reducing side effects, and enhancing the efficacy of existing treatments. This approach can lead to better patient survival rates and quality of life. This Research Topic aims to advance the understanding and treatment of colon, lung, and liver cancers by focusing on several key objectives. First, it seeks to identify and characterize novel molecular targets specific to these cancers, elucidating their biological and molecular mechanisms of action. This includes exploring the therapeutic potential and development of new drugs that target these molecules and assessing their efficacy and safety through rigorous preclinical and clinical studies. The Research Topic will also delve into the pathways and interactions involving these novel targets, aiming to understand how their modulation can disrupt cancer progression and enhance patient outcomes. Additionally, it will address mechanisms of resistance to current therapies and investigate how novel targets can overcome these challenges. The development and validation of biomarkers based on these targets for early detection and prognostic assessment will also be a focus. Case studies and clinical trials highlighting the successes and obstacles encountered in targeting these novel targets will be presented, alongside discussions on the real-world application and integration of these therapies into clinical practice. Finally, the Research Topic will identify emerging trends and propose future research directions, aiming to drive breakthroughs in the field of cancer therapy. This Research Topic welcomes researchers, scientists, and experts to contribute to a collection focused on novel molecular targets in colon, lung, and liver cancers even other types of cancers. Submissions should address one or more of the following themes: • Identification and characterization of novel targets specific to colon, lung, and liver cancer cells and understanding the biological and molecular mechanisms driving the expression and function of these targets. • Therapeutic potential and drug development of new drugs targeting these novel molecules and assessing the efficacy and safety of these novel therapies through preclinical and clinical studies. • To elucidate the pathways and interactions these novel targets are involved in and understand how targeting these molecules can disrupt cancer progression and survival. • To identify mechanisms of resistance to current therapies and how novel targets can overcome these challenges. • To develop and validate biomarkers based on novel molecular targets for early detection of colon and liver cancers. • To evaluate the prognostic value of these biomarkers in predicting patient outcomes and treatment responses. • To present case studies and clinical trials that highlight the success and challenges of targeting novel molecular targets in colon, lung, and liver cancer patients. • To discuss real-world application and integration of these therapies into clinical practice. • To identify emerging trends in the discovery and application of novel molecular targets and propose future research directions and potential breakthroughs in the field of colon and liver cancer therapy. We encourage original research articles, reviews, case reports, and technical notes that contribute to the Research Topic "Novel Molecular Targets in Cancer Therapy".