Histological hubs of effective anti-tumor immunity

Effective anti-tumor immunity is not only defined by which immune cells are present in a tumor, but also by how they are organized in space. Across cancer types, local immune control often emerges from discrete, histologically identifiable “hubs” where tumor cells, stromal elements, and coordinated immune subsets assemble into functional microanatomical units that enable antigen presentation, lymphocyte activation, cytotoxic effector function, and immune memory.Among these hubs, tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) represent a compelling and well-studied example of organized anti-tumor immunity. However, TLS are not the only spatial architectures associated with productive immune responses. This Research Topic therefore broadens the lens beyond TLS to include a wider set of microanatomical immune niches (e.g., lymphoid aggregates of varying maturity, perivascular immune niches, dendritic cell–T cell interaction zones, B cell–rich follicles, CD4-DC-CD8 “immune triads,” and other spatial “neighborhoods” linked to immune activation). We especially welcome studies that clarify when these structures are beneficial, when they are non-productive, and why their impact can diverge by tumor type, anatomical site, and treatment context.A core aim of this Research Topic is to highlight histological and spatial evidence of these hubs and connect them to treatment response, immunotherapy outcomes, prognosis, and mechanisms of resistance. We encourage submissions that leverage enabling technologies—digital pathology, spatial omics, multiplex imaging, and quantitative spatial analysis—to define, measure, and functionally interpret immune organization within the tumor microenvironment.Submissions may address (but are not limited to):o Histological and spatial organization of anti-tumor immunity across tumor compartments (tumor core, invasive margin, stroma, perivascular regions, tertiary niches).o TLS as a key example of organized immune hubs (initiation, maturation states, function, and heterogeneity).o Other microanatomical immune niches and spatial “neighborhoods” associated with effective local immune activation (including immune triads and APC–T cell interaction zones).o Mechanistic links between spatial hubs and tumor control (antigen presentation, T cell priming/maintenance, B cell responses, cytotoxicity, exhaustion, immune exclusion).o Clinical and translational relevance: association of hubs with prognosis, recurrence, metastasis, and response or resistance to immunotherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and combination regimens.o Enabling methods and analytics: digital pathology workflows; multiplex IHC/IF; spatial transcriptomics/proteomics; imaging mass cytometry / highly multiplex platforms; quantitative spatial statistics; reproducible scoring systems; harmonization and cross-platform comparison.We welcome original research, methods papers, reviews, mini-reviews, brief research reports, and case reports, including first reports of microanatomical immune structures revealed by emerging imaging or spatial platforms.Please note that Dr. Helen Angell is an AstraZeneca Employee & Shareholder Topic editors: Ying Ma, Helen K Angell, Doriana Fruci Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79311/histological-hubs-of-effective-anti-tumor-immunity