Epidemiological studies have shown that long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs reduces the risk of the development of cancer. In agreement with this observation, it is now recognised that pro-inflammatory immune cells and their interactions with tumour and stromal cells can potentiate growth of primary tumours, and their dissemination via promoting angiogenesis and altering tumour microenvironment.
Similarly, inflammatory diseases are known to increase the risk of the development of gastric, intestinal and prostate cancers. In addition, increased numbers of tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) and T-lymphocytes have been observed in human breast and ovarian cancer, and in classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The presence of high numbers of immune cells in neoplastic tissues is associated with poor prognosis, increased metastatic diseases and shortened survival times. In tumour animal models, TAMs have been shown to promote tumour growth, invasion, angiogenesis and suppression of anti-tumor-directed immune responses. Once recruited, immune cells can produce inflammatory molecules that alter tumour microenvironment, including tumour cell growth, motility, invasion, remodelling of extracellular matrices and neoangiogenesis.
In spite of the physical presence of immune cells (macrophages and T-lymphocytes), there are few insights into the precise role of immune cells in inflammation and cancer progression, including how the phenotypic and functional differences of various types of immune cells affect this process.
This special issue will include original research articles and review papers in the field of inflammation and cancer, including, but not limited to, inflammatory diseases and cancer, cytokine/chemokine signalling in cancer development, inflammatory immune cells in cancer development, tumour microenvironment, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in tumorigenesis, angiogenesis and inflammation.
Suitable topics include but are not limited to:
- Role of inflammatory cells in the development of cancer
- Adaptive immune recognition of tumour-associated and specific antigens
- Tumor immune-surveillance
- Inflammatory immune responses in cancer progression
- Infiltrating leukocytes, pro-tumorigenic angiogenic switch, and tumor progression
- Tumor microenvironment and immune cells
Important Dates
Deadline for submission: 30 December, 2013
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