Dear Colleagues,

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is the complex network of cells and factors that surround and interact with cancer cells within a tumor. Understanding the TME is critical for developing effective cancer treatments, as it can influence tumor growth, metastasis, and response to therapy. Some of the key problems that need to be addressed in tumor microenvironment research include:

Understanding the heterogeneity of the TME: The TME is composed of a diverse array of cells and factors that can vary between different types of tumors and even within a single tumor. Understanding the complexity and heterogeneity of the TME is essential for developing targeted therapies that can effectively eliminate cancer cells.

Identifying the key signaling pathways and mechanisms that drive TME function: The TME can play both pro-tumor and anti-tumor roles, and identifying the key signaling pathways and mechanisms that influence TME function is critical for developing strategies to promote anti-tumor activity and inhibit pro-tumor activity.

Improving our understanding of the role of the immune system in the TME: The immune system plays a critical role in regulating TME function, and developing strategies to promote anti-tumor immune responses is an important area of research. Improving our understanding of how immune cells interact with cancer cells and other cells within the TME is essential for developing effective immunotherapies.

Developing new tools and technologies for studying the TME: The TME is a highly complex and dynamic system, and developing new tools and technologies for studying it is critical for gaining deeper insights into its function. This includes developing new imaging techniques, model systems, and high-throughput screening approaches.

Overcoming drug resistance within the TME: Resistance to therapy is a major problem in cancer treatment, and the TME can play a critical role in driving resistance. Developing strategies to overcome drug resistance within the TME is a key challenge in cancer research.

Translating TME research into clinical practice: While our understanding of the TME has grown rapidly in recent years, translating this knowledge into clinical practice remains a challenge. Developing strategies to integrate TME-based approaches into cancer treatment and clinical decision-making is essential for improving patient outcomes.

Overall, understanding the TME is critical for developing more effective cancer treatments, and addressing these challenges will require continued innovation and collaboration across disciplines.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Lingdi Yin
Prof. Dr. Elena Levantini
Prof. Dr. Francesca Varrone
Prof. Dr. Murtaza Ali

Section Editors