Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Checkpoints: Pathophysiologic and Diagnostic Aspect
A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 9834
Special Issue Editors
Interests: human NK cells; human ILC; tumor microenvironment (human)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: PD-L1; cancer; immunotherapy; TIL; computational pathology
Interests: innate lymphoid cells; NK cells; glucocorticoids; immunotherapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: NK cells; PD-1; inhibitory receptors; immunotherapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The immune system may control tumor growth and metastatic spread through a number of mechanisms involving different cell types and soluble molecules belonging to both innate and adaptive immunity. Thus, innate cells including NK cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells contribute to keep tumor growth in check. In addition, the existence of specific tumor antigens allows cells of adaptive immunity, mostly T cells, to exert a second, more sophisticated, level of control. Despite the efficacy of these defenses, tumors may escape the control of the immune system and even counteract novel, potent immunotherapeutic approaches, including the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) or T cells engineered with receptors specific for tumor cell surface antigens (CAR-T). While different mechanisms of escape have been identified (e.g., the loss of HLA-class-I antigens, required for T cell function), a central role is played by the tumor-induced suppressive microenvironment (TME) which may greatly hamper the ability of effector cells to kill tumor cells. The TME is composed of different cell types and soluble factors. Thus, in addition to tumor cells which may express ligands of inhibitory receptors (e.g., PD-L1) or “protective” molecules such as CD47 (“do not eat me” signal), allowing immune evasion, other cells, conditioned by the tumor, contribute to form an inhibitory milieu, mainly through the secretion of soluble factors and cytokines. The mechanisms of inhibition are variegated, spanning from induction of suppressive cells such as regulatory T cells (T-reg), myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSC), M2 macrophages, etc., to the expression, on effector cells, of inhibitory receptors (e.g., PD-1) and/or downregulation of activating receptors (e.g., natural cytotoxicity NK receptors, NCR).
This Special Issue will focus on the pathophysiologic and diagnostic aspects of the main antitumor immune response inhibitory mechanisms. It is evident that precise knowledge and detection of suppressive cells, of receptors functioning as true inhibitory checkpoints, as well as soluble factors composing the TME has offered and will offer important clues for precise therapeutic targeting. Indeed, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has revolutionized the clinical outcome of highly aggressive tumors such as melanoma and lung carcinoma.
Prof. Dr. Lorenzo Moretta
Dr. Enrico Munari
Dr. Linda Quatrini
Dr. Francesca Romana Mariotti
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
