Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (Journal)

Branco, C. (Guest editor)
Meera Murgai (Associate editor)

Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity

Description

Special Issue Guest Editor

Period	02 Mar 2022
Type of journal	Journal
ISSN	2296-634X
Degree of Recognition	International

Documents & Links

Metastatic dissemination continues to be the main cause of cancer-associated deaths, and remains the biggest challenge for researchers, clinicians and patients alike. Because cancers acquire and refine adaptive features during invasion of other organs, secondary cancer represents a heterogeneous and refractory group of diseases for which, in most cases, there is no effective treatment. While the spotlight is mostly on tumour cell -driven invasiveness, there is growing interest and increasing evidence of the importance of somatic contributors to metastatic success The early stages of the metastatic cascade are heavily reliant on both tumor-intrinsic and extrinsic qualities. The ability of a disseminated cancer cell (DTC) to survive and colonize a foreign tissue is conditioned by the context encountered at the site: microenvironmental aspects including nutrient availability, matrix composition and stiffness or inflammation status. While dissemination can be systemic, some organs are typical sites of metastasis (lung, liver) while others, with similar probability for extravasation events (kidney, muscle), are seldom hosts of metastatic cancer. Ultimately, pre- and pro-metastatic signals within the secondary organ determine the fate of DTC: elimination, dormancy or growth. In this topic we would like to collate emerging research into somatic contributions to metastatic disease, from the standpoint of the metastatic organ (instead of the primary tumour). This Research Topic will incorporate studies in somatic cell contribution or deterrence to metastasis, focused on the secondary site. Themes include but are not limited to: • Pre- and pro-metastatic microenvironments • DTC fate decisions • Stromal modulation • Immune landscape • Pre-existing (chronic or transient) conditions.