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Cancer Microenvironment

Section edited by Davide Bedognetti and Jessica Roelands

© © nopparit / Getty Images / iStock

The Cancer microenvironment section publishes research on the cellular and molecular components of the cancer microenvironment, with a particular focus on translational research that has important implications for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human neoplasms.

Submissions that relate to the characterisation of the molecular profile and regulation of cancers at different tumour stages are especially welcome, as are those which identify specific cancer microenvironments that predict tumour incidence, response to therapy and outcome. Laboratory studies of new drugs and biological agents that target cancer microenvironments will also be considered.

Featured articles


microRNA-1271 impedes the development of prostate cancer by downregulating PES1 and upregulating ERβ

Research | Zhenming Jiang et al


Tumor microenvironment differences between primary tumor and brain metastases

Review | Bernardo Cacho-Díaz et al


Identification of key genes controlling breast cancer stem cell characteristics via stemness indices analysis

Research | Jianying Pei et al

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  1. The metastatic mechanisms of axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remain unclear. We aimed to identify the potential circRNA regulatory network in ALN metastasis.

    Authors: Jiayue Luo, Dong Cao, Chuwen Hu, Zhen Liang, Yuanping Zhang and Jianguo Lai
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:508
    Content type: Research Published on:

    The Correction to this article has been published in Journal of Translational Medicine 2023 21:181

  2. Small peptides encoded by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have attracted attention for their various functions. Recent studies indicate that these small peptides participate in immune responses and antigen pres...

    Authors: Wenbo Zhao, Yibo Wu, Feihu Zhao, Zhiyi Xue, Wenyu Liu, Zenxin Cao, Zhimin Zhao, Bin Huang, Mingzhi Han and Xingang Li
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:494
    Content type: Research Published on:

  3. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may have prognostic value in bladder cancer for their key role in tumorigenesis and innate immunity.

    Authors: Zi-Hao Feng, Yan-Ping Liang, Jun-Jie Cen, Hao-Hua Yao, Hai-Shan Lin, Jia-Ying Li, Hui Liang, Zhu Wang, Qiong Deng, Jia-Zheng Cao, Yong Huang, Jin-Huan Wei, Jun-Hang Luo, Wei Chen and Zhen-Hua Chen
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:492
    Content type: Research Published on:

  4. Ferroptosis is a new form of programmed cell death, which achieved great breakthroughs in cell biology during past decade. However, the regulation of ferroptosis is yet to be identified thoroughly. The latest ...

    Authors: Guixing Kuang, Weidong Wang, Dan Xiong and Chong Zeng
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:474
    Content type: Commentary Published on:

  5. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and metastatic disease is associated with a significant survival rate drop. There is an urgent need for consistent tumor biomarkers to scale precision medicine and...

    Authors: Claudia Sabato, Teresa Maria Rosaria Noviello, Alessia Covre, Sandra Coral, Francesca Pia Caruso, Zein Mersini Besharat, Elena Splendiani, Laura Masuelli, Cecilia Battistelli, Alessandra Vacca, Giuseppina Catanzaro, Agnese Po, Andrea Anichini, Michele Maio, Michele Ceccarelli, Anna Maria Di Giacomo…
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:469
    Content type: Research Published on:

  6. Liver carcinoma generally presents as an immunosuppressive microenvironment that promotes tumor evasion. The intercellular crosstalk of immune cells significantly influences the construction of an immunosuppre...

    Authors: Zhuomao Mo, Daiyuan Liu, Yihan Chen, Jin Luo, Wenjing Li, Jiahui Liu, Ling Yu, Bijun Huang and Shijun Zhang
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:466
    Content type: Research Published on:

  7. Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are heterogeneous and pro-metastatic tumors. Identification of accurate prognostic factors and novel therapeutic targets are crucial. CSPG4 is a cell surface proteoglycan with oncoge...

    Authors: Laurys Boudin, A de Nonneville, Pascal Finetti, Léna Mescam, A Le Cesne, Antoine Italiano, Jean-Yves Blay, Daniel Birnbaum, Emilie Mamessier and François Bertucci
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:464
    Content type: Research Published on:

  8. Single-cell transcription data provided unprecedented molecular information, enabling us to directly encode the ecosystem of colorectal cancer (CRC). Characterization of the diversity of epithelial cells and h...

    Authors: Rongfang Shen, Ping Li, Botao Zhang, Lin Feng and Shujun Cheng
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:462
    Content type: Research Published on:

  9. Liver metastases are a major contributor to the poor immunotherapy response in colorectal cancer patients. However, the distinctions in the immune microenvironment between primary tumors and liver metastases a...

    Authors: Yangsong He, Yanan Han, A-hui Fan, Danxiu Li, Boda Wang, Kun Ji, Xin Wang, Xiaodi Zhao and Yuanyuan Lu
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:454
    Content type: Research Published on:

  10. We proposed an artificial intelligence-based immune index, Deep-immune score, quantifying the infiltration of immune cells interacting with the tumor stroma in hematoxylin and eosin-stained whole-slide images ...

    Authors: Jing Yang, Huifen Ye, Xinjuan Fan, Yajun Li, Xiaomei Wu, Minning Zhao, Qingru Hu, Yunrui Ye, Lin Wu, Zhenhui Li, Xueli Zhang, Changhong Liang, Yingyi Wang, Yao Xu, Qian Li, Su Yao…
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:451
    Content type: Research Published on:

  11. Advances in our understanding of the tumor microenvironment have radically changed the cancer field, highlighting the emerging need for biomarkers of an active, favorable tumor immune phenotype to aid treatmen...

    Authors: Shimaa Sherif, Raghvendra Mall, Hossam Almeer, Adviti Naik, Abdulaziz Al Homaid, Remy Thomas, Jessica Roelands, Sathiya Narayanan, Mahmoud Gasim Mohamed, Shahinaz Bedri, Salha Bujassoum Al-Bader, Kulsoom Junejo, Davide Bedognetti, Wouter Hendrickx and Julie Decock
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:442
    Content type: Research Published on:

  12. The diversity of histologic composition reflects the inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity of lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs) macroscopically. Insights into the oncological characteristics and tumor microenvironme...

    Authors: Dianke Li, Huansha Yu, Junjie Hu, Shaoling Li, Yilv Yan, Shuangyi Li, Liangdong Sun, Gening Jiang, Likun Hou, Lele Zhang and Peng Zhang
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:423
    Content type: Research Published on:

  13. Bowen's disease is a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) in situ. If left untreated, BD may progress to invasive CSCC. CSCC is one of the most common cutaneous carcinoma in the elderly and the advanced, m...

    Authors: Tang Biao, He Cai-feng, Lu Xiao-hong, Chang Xiao-li, Liu Wen-bei, Wang Jun, Ci Chao and Yuan Tao
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:416
    Content type: Research Published on:

  15. The traditional prostate cancer (PCa) model is established by injecting cell suspension and is associated with a low tumor formation rate. Cell sheet technology is one of the advancements in tissue engineering...

    Authors: Dongliang Zhang, Ying Wang, Lei Liu, Zeng Li, Shengke Yang, Weixin Zhao, Xiang Wang, Hong Liao and Shukui Zhou
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:381
    Content type: Research Published on:

  16. Recently, extensive cancer genomic studies have revealed mutational and clinical data of large cohorts of cancer patients. For example, the Pan-Lung Cancer 2016 dataset (part of The Cancer Genome Atlas project...

    Authors: Karen Y. Oróstica, Juan Saez-Hidalgo, Pamela R. de Santiago, Solange Rivas, Sebastian Contreras, Gonzalo Navarro, Juan A. Asenjo, Álvaro Olivera-Nappa and Ricardo Armisén
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:373
    Content type: Research Published on:

  17. Glioma is the most common cancer in the central nervous system, and low grade gliomas are notorious for many types of tumors and heterogeneity. PROS1 not only plays an important role in the blood coagulation syst...

    Authors: Yujie Zhou, Dongdong Xiao and Xiaobing Jiang
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:335
    Content type: Research Published on:

  18. A piglet model for peritoneal metastasis (PM) of ovarian cancer was developed. It will contribute to establishing innovative chemotherapeutical and surgical strategies without any limitation on rodent models.

    Authors: Eun Ji Lee, Soo Jin Park, Aeran Seol, Hyunji Lim, Sumin Park, Ji Yeon Ahn, Jeong Mook Lim and Hee Seung Kim
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:329
    Content type: Research Published on:

  19. Necroptosis plays a major role in breast cancer (BC) progression and metastasis. Besides, necroptosis also regulates inflammatory response and tumor microenvironment. Here, we aim to explore the predictive sig...

    Authors: Honghao Yu, Wenchang Lv, Yufang Tan, Xiao He, Yiping Wu, Min Wu and Qi Zhang
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:328
    Content type: Research Published on:

  20. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can disrupt the tight junctions between gastric epithelial cells and penetrate the intercellular spaces acting on epithelial cells, normal fibroblasts (NFs), and cancer-associated ...

    Authors: Xueshu Chen, Wei Chen, Yan Zhao, Qinrong Wang, Wenling Wang, Yining Xiang, Hang Yuan, Yuan Xie and Jianjiang Zhou
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:322
    Content type: Research Published on:

  21. As an important component of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), it has been established that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) promote the progression of tumor cells. MSCs can directly promote the...

    Authors: Zhenghou Zhang, Xiangyu Zhou, Jinshuai Guo, Fusheng Zhang, Yiping Qian, Guang Wang, Meiqi Duan, Yutian Wang, Haiying Zhao, Zhi Yang, Zunpeng Liu and Xiaofeng Jiang
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:320
    Content type: Review Published on:

  22. The tumor-promoting role of tumor microenvironment (TME) in colorectal cancer has been widely investigated in cancer biology. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as the main stromal component in TME, play an...

    Authors: Zhiwei Peng, Manping Ye, Huiming Ding, Zhenyou Feng and Kongwang Hu
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:302
    Content type: Research Published on:

  23. After the success of immunotherapy in the treatment of advanced metastatic cancer, further evaluation in earlier settings, including high-risk, surgically-resectable disease is underway. Potential benefits of ...

    Authors: Elizabeth M. Burton, Rodabe N. Amaria, Tina Cascone, Myriam Chalabi, Neil D. Gross, Elizabeth A. Mittendorf, Richard A. Scolyer, Padmanee Sharma and Paolo A. Ascierto
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:271
    Content type: Meeting report Published on:

  24. Gastric cancer is a common type of gastrointestinal malignant tumor in China. The mechanism of the development and progression of gastric cancer remains the continuing research focus. The tumor microenvironmen...

    Authors: Weihua Yu, Guojun Chen, Jiafei Yan, Xianfa Wang, Yiping Zhu and Linghua Zhu
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:250
    Content type: Research Published on:

  25. Necroptosis is a new form of programmed cell death that is associated with cancer initiation, progression, immunity, and chemoresistance. However, the roles of necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) in colorectal ca...

    Authors: Wenqin Luo, Wenqiang Xiang, Lu Gan, Ji Che, Jing Li, Yichao Wang, Lingyu Han, Ruiqi Gu, Li Ye, Renjie Wang, Xiuping Zhang, Ye Xu, Weixing Dai, Shaobo Mo, Qingguo Li and Guoxiang Cai
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:235
    Content type: Research Published on:

  26. Little is known about SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in asymptomatic patients affected by solid cancer, and whether it is associated with specific transcriptomics changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

    Authors: Francesco Ravera, Roberto Borea, Gabriella Cirmena, Martina Dameri, Lorenzo Ferrando, Maurizio Gallo, Cecilia Casini, Neri Fallani, Mario Stabile, Valentina Barbero, Roberto Murialdo, Lucia Tixi, Margherita Cappuccio, Andrea Cuboni, Irene Sivieri, Giuseppe Fornarini…
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:230
    Content type: Research Published on:

  28. Colorectal cancer is a commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Unfortunately, many patients do not respond to standard chemotherapy treatments and develop disease relapse and metastases. Besides cancer cell speci...

    Authors: Simona Salerno, Anders Ståhlberg, André Holdfeldt, Elinor Bexe Lindskog and Göran Landberg
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:209
    Content type: Research Published on:

  29. The establishing of the first cancer models created a new perspective on the identification and evaluation of new anti-cancer therapies in preclinical studies. Patient-derived xenograft models are created by t...

    Authors: Shahrokh Abdolahi, Zeinab Ghazvinian, Samad Muhammadnejad, Mahshid Saleh, Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei and Kaveh Baghaei
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:206
    Content type: Review Published on:

  30. As a common complication of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), malignant ascites contributes to the peritoneal metastasis of EOC. CircRNAs play essential roles in tumor metastasis. However, no circRNAs have been...

    Authors: Ning Luo, Zubaidan Sulaiman, Chunyan Wang, Jinye Ding, Yingying Chen, Biting Liu, Zhongping Cheng and Shupeng Liu
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:201
    Content type: Research Published on:

  31. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation plays a critical role in key genetic events for various cancers; yet, how m6A functions within the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains to be elucidated.

    Authors: Yuzhen Gao, Hao Wang, Shipeng Chen, Rui An, Yadong Chu, Guoli Li, Yanzhong Wang, Xinyou Xie and Jun Zhang
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:197
    Content type: Research Published on:

  34. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) refers to an aggressive malignancy with a high fatality rate and poor prognosis. Globally, the morbidity of CCA is increasing for the past few decades, which has progressed into a dise...

    Authors: Kai Zhao, Xiangyu Li, Yuanxin Shi, Yun Lu, Peng Qiu, Zhengdong Deng, Wei Yao and Jianming Wang
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:117
    Content type: Review Published on:

  35. Exosomal miRNAs have attracted much attention due to their critical role in regulating genes and the altered expression of miRNAs in virtually all cancers affecting humans (Sun et al. in Mol Cancer 17(1):14, 2...

    Authors: Chuanyun Li, Tong Zhou, Jing Chen, Rong Li, Huan Chen, Shumin Luo, Dexi Chen, Cao Cai and Weihua Li
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:6
    Content type: Review Published on:

  36. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the most abundant cells in the tumor microenvironment, have prominent roles in the development of solid tumors as stromal targets. However, the underlying mechanism of CAF...

    Authors: Jia-Yi Zhang, Wei-Wen Zhu, Meng-Yao Wang, Run-Dong Zhai, Qiong Wang, Wei-Li Shen and Lai-Kui Liu
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:513
    Content type: Research Published on:

  37. Immunotherapies targeting ligand-receptor interactions (LRIs) are advancing rapidly in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), and LRIs also affect many aspects of CRC development. However, the pattern of LR...

    Authors: Hexin Lin, Lu Xia, Jiabian Lian, Yinan Chen, Yiyi Zhang, Zhicheng Zhuang, HuaJun Cai, Jun You and Guoxian Guan
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:497
    Content type: Research Published on:

  38. The characterization of the immune component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer has been limited. Molecular and spatial characterizat...

    Authors: Ilana Schlam, Sarah E. Church, Tyler D. Hether, Krysta Chaldekas, Briana M. Hudson, Andrew M. White, Emily Maisonet, Brent T. Harris and Sandra M. Swain
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:480
    Content type: Research Published on:

  39. The diversity and plasticity behind ER+/PR−/HER2− breast cancer have not been widely explored. It is essential to identify heterogeneous microenvironment phenotypes and investigate specific genomic events driv...

    Authors: Peiling Xie, Rui An, Shibo Yu, Jianjun He and Huimin Zhang
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:398
    Content type: Research Published on:

  40. Tumor heterogeneity is a primary cause of treatment failure. However, changes in drug sensitivity over time are not well mapped in cancer. Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) may predict clinical drug responses e...

    Authors: Kushtrim Kryeziu, Seyed H. Moosavi, Christian H. Bergsland, Marianne G. Guren, Peter W. Eide, Max Z. Totland, Kristoffer Lassen, Andreas Abildgaard, Arild Nesbakken, Anita Sveen and Ragnhild A. Lothe
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:384
    Content type: Research Published on:

  41. Antiangiogenic therapy has increasingly become an important strategy for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Recent studies have shown that the tumour microenvironment (TME) promotes tumour angiogenesis. Bufal...

    Authors: Kai Fang, Yueping Zhan, Ruiqiu Zhu, Yuqian Wang, Chengqi Wu, Min Sun, Yanyan Qiu, Zeting Yuan, Xin Liang, Peihao Yin and Ke Xu
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:383
    Content type: Research Published on:

  42. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEXs) are involved in tumor progression and the immune modulation process and mediate intercellular communication in the tumor microenvironment. Although exosomes are considered promisi...

    Authors: Jiani Wu, Dongqiang Zeng, Shimeng Zhi, Zilan Ye, Wenjun Qiu, Na Huang, Li Sun, Chunlin Wang, Zhenzhen Wu, Jianping Bin, Yulin Liao, Min Shi and Wangjun Liao
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:381
    Content type: Research Published on:

  43. Since interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family functions in immune response to viral infection, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been inspected before. This study tries to investigate members of IR...

    Authors: Yan-Jie Chen, Shu-Neng Luo, Ling Dong, Tao-Tao Liu, Xi-Zhong Shen, Ning-Ping Zhang and Li Liang
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:379
    Content type: Research Published on:

  44. Accumulative evidence shows that an organoid is a more practical and reliable tool in cancer biology research. This study aimed to identify and validate crucial genes involved in non-small cell lung cancer car...

    Authors: Xiao Ma, Su Yang, Hesheng Jiang, Yujie Wang and Zhen Xiang
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:368
    Content type: Research Published on:

  45. Fine tuned balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is essential for tumor cells and tumor cells use immune checkpoints to evade attack form immunity system. However, it’s unclear whether there is any crosstal...

    Authors: Bangbao Tao, Juanhong Shi, Shuai Shuai, Haiyan Zhou, Hongxia Zhang, Bin Li, Xiaoqiang Wang, Guohui Li, Hua He and Jun Zhong
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:338
    Content type: Research Published on:

  47. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-associated deaths accounting for 24% of all cancer deaths. As a crucial phase of tumor progression, lung cancer metastasis is linked to over 70% of these mortalities....

    Authors: Lei Yin, Xiaotian Liu, Xuejun Shao, Tao Feng, Jun Xu, Qi Wang and Shenghao Hua
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:312
    Content type: Review Published on:

  48. This is the first study to build and evaluate a predictive model for early relapse after R0 resection in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with microvascular invasion (MVI).

    Authors: Kai Zhang, Changcheng Tao, Tana Siqin, Jianxiong Wu and Weiqi Rong
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:293
    Content type: Research Published on:

  49. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) has been implicated in the progression of esophageal cancer (EC). However, the specific mechanism of the involvement of MEG3 in EC development in...

    Authors: Qi-Rong Xu, Jian Tang, Hong-Ying Liao, Ben-Tong Yu, Xiang-Yuan He, Yu-Zhen Zheng and Sheng Liu
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:264
    Content type: Research Published on:

  50. Soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) are a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumors for which response to immunotherapies is not well established. Therefore, it is important to risk-stratify and identify STS patients w...

    Authors: Malte Simon, Sadaf S. Mughal, Peter Horak, Sebastian Uhrig, Jonas Buchloh, Bogac Aybey, Albrecht Stenzinger, Hanno Glimm, Stefan Fröhling, Benedikt Brors and Charles D. Imbusch
    Citation: Journal of Translational Medicine 2021 19:204
    Content type: Research Published on:

    The Correction to this article has been published in Journal of Translational Medicine 2022 20:152

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