Cell–Immune–Metabolic Interactions in the Tumor Microenvironment

In cancer biology, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has emerged as a critical field of study due to its intricate and dynamic nature, comprising malignant cells, diverse immune populations, stromal elements, vasculature, and extracellular matrix components. Mounting evidence indicates that the progression of tumors, their ability to evade immune surveillance, and the development of therapeutic resistance are shaped not only by tumor cell–intrinsic mutations but also by complex interdependencies between cellular, immune, and metabolic processes. Landmark studies have revealed that metabolic reprogramming in both tumor and immune cells governs nutrient access, signaling cascades, and epigenetic states—all of which directly influence the effectiveness of immune responses and therapeutic interventions. Despite major advances, our understanding of the bidirectional influences between cellular metabolism and immune functions within the heterogeneous TME remains limited. Notably, the roles of immune and stromal cells in reshaping metabolic landscapes and cellular phenotypes present ongoing challenges and highlight the need for better integrative approaches to unravel these multilayered interactions.This Research Topic aims to integrate the latest findings on how cellular signaling, immune regulation, and metabolic remodeling converge within the TME, and to uncover actionable mechanistic pathways for therapeutic exploitation. By addressing critical questions—such as how metabolic rewiring controls immune cell differentiation and antitumor activity, how immune responses reciprocally remodel tumor metabolic programs, and how these interplays contribute to therapy resistance, the Research Topic seeks to bridge existing knowledge gaps. Advancing this area requires cross-disciplinary methodologies that unite molecular and cellular biology, immunology, metabolism research, multi-omics platforms, and computational modeling. The overarching objective is to stimulate new conceptual frameworks and foster research collaborations that will accelerate precision therapies for cancer by targeting the TME’s dynamic cell–immune–metabolic networks.The scope of this Research Topic encompasses original, technological, and translational research focused on the reciprocal interactions of tumor, immune, and metabolic processes within the TME. While it centers on mechanistic discoveries and translational applications, purely descriptive or tangential studies are outside its focus. To gather further insights into these multi-faceted dynamics, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Cellular heterogeneity and plasticity influencing metabolic and immune responses in tumors.o Immune cell metabolism and functional reprogramming in the TME.o Mechanisms of tumor metabolic adaptation and immune evasion.o The impact of hypoxia and nutrient competition on TME function.o Metabolite-driven signaling and epigenetic regulation in tumor–immune interactions.o Applications of single-cell and spatial omics for mapping TME cell states.o Systems biology and computational models of cell–immune–metabolic networks.o Preclinical and clinical strategies targeting metabolic–immune pathways in cancer. Topic editors: Qinan Yin, Yan Ma, Gayan Bamunuarachchi Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78044/cell-immune-metabolic-interactions-in-the-tumor-microenvironment