Colorectal Cancer Immunotherapy and Immune Mechanisms: Volume II

This Research Topic is the second volume of the Colorectal Cancer Immunotherapy and Immune Mechanisms, with Volume I getting 21 accepted articles. Please see the first volume here: Colorectal Cancer Immunotherapy and Immune Mechanisms.The immune system plays a pivotal role in colorectal cancer (CRC), with immune cells such as T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells directly influencing tumor progression, immune surveillance, and therapeutic response. CRC is characterized by a heterogeneous tumor microenvironment (TME), which includes a dynamic interplay between cancer cells, stromal cells, and immune components. This kind of trait poses unique challenges for immunotherapy. For example, mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) CRC tumors exhibit a high mutational burden and robust neoantigen expression, which render them more immunogenic and responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, the majority of CRC cases are mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) or microsatellite stable (MSS), characterized by a "cold" immune microenvironment with low T cell infiltration and poor response to current immunotherapies.Understanding CRC-specific immune interactions, including the crosstalk between immune cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) or endothelial cells, is essential for overcoming these barriers. Improving immunotherapeutic strategies and identifying biomarkers predictive of immunotherapy response are critical steps to improving outcomes for CRC patients, particularly for those with MSS tumors, who constitute the majority of cases. Such advances could transform the immunotherapy landscape for this challenging malignancy.This Research Topic focuses on innovative aspects of colorectal cancer immunology, specifically targeting mechanisms of immune evasion and novel therapeutic interventions. Topics include the development of CRC-specific immune therapies, modulation of the tumor microenvironment, and advances in personalized treatments such as CAR T-cell therapy and neoantigen vaccines. We invite researchers and clinicians with expertise in colorectal cancer (CRC) immunology and immunotherapy to contribute to this topic. Submissions should focus on enhancing our understanding of CRC-specific immune mechanisms and translating these insights into effective clinical applications.1. CRC-Specific Immune Escape: Mechanistic insights into CRC immune evasion and potential intervention strategies.2. Checkpoint Inhibitors in CRC: Evaluation of novel checkpoint inhibitors, combination therapies, and management of immune-related adverse events.3. Tumor Microenvironment in CRC: The role of stromal and immune components in modulating immunotherapy efficacy and approaches to overcome resistance.4. Personalized Immunotherapy for CRC: Advances in tailoring immunotherapy based on individual tumor immune profiles, including neoantigen targeting, adaptive cell therapies, and predictive biomarkers of response.5. Stromal–Immune Crosstalk and Wound-Healing-Like Programs in CRC: Investigation of fibroblast activation, extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, fibrosis, and wound-healing-like stromal programs in shaping immune cell infiltration, immune surveillance, tumor progression, prognosis, and therapeutic response in CRC.6. Host Immune–Inflammatory States in CRC: Evaluation of systemic immune–inflammatory status, tissue repair responses, fibrosis-related phenotypes, and host–tumor interactions in CRC development, immune microenvironment remodeling, disease progression, prognosis, and treatment response. Topic editors: Zhaoxu Zheng, Zheng Liu, Martin Herrmann, Yulin Sun Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80843/colorectal-cancer-immunotherapy-and-immune-mechanisms-volume-ii