Mechanistic Insights into Tumor Immunity Using Single-Cell, Spatial Omics, and Computational Approaches

The field of cancer immunology is swiftly advancing due to breakthroughs in single-cell technologies, spatial omics, and high-throughput computational analytics. Tumor immunity emerges from intricate molecular and cellular interactions among immune cells, tumor cells, stromal elements, and the diverse metabolic and membranous structures of the tumor microenvironment. Recent studies have harnessed single-cell transcriptomics, spatially resolved omics, proteomics, metabolomics, and artificial intelligence-assisted computational approaches to map this complexity at unprecedented resolution. Despite these accomplishments, a significant challenge remains: linking the descriptive power of these technologies to experimentally validated mechanisms that drive tumor–immune interactions, immune escape, and responses to therapy.While tools like single-cell and spatial omics have revolutionized how we catalog the cellular and molecular diversity within tumors, many studies stop short of uncovering the underlying mechanistic principles. Major gaps persist in our understanding of how genetic, epigenetic, and biochemical processes regulate immune surveillance, antigen presentation, intercellular communication, and the adaptation of tumor and immune compartments. Integrative approaches—combining molecular biophysics, RNA biology, genome regulation, and protein function with computational modeling—are beginning to address these issues, but much work remains to translate data-rich observations into causal, testable mechanisms. Innovations in nanotechnology, diagnostics, and systems biology further highlight the need for cross-disciplinary efforts anchored by robust validation.This Research Topic seeks to bridge this gap by prioritizing studies that use or combine single-cell, spatial omics, and computational approaches to reveal the molecular mechanisms of tumor immunity. The goal is to foster research that moves beyond descriptive profiling and delivers actionable mechanistic insights into immune regulation, tumor–immune crosstalk, and therapeutic response, drawing on in silico, in vitro, and in vivo evidence. We encourage the submission of work that integrates experimental validation, leverages advanced technologies, and challenges existing paradigms with novel, testable hypotheses.The boundaries of this Research Topic are set to include studies that employ advanced omics and computational tools to yield in-depth mechanistic understanding of tumor immunity, particularly those that unify multiple layers of evidence or propose experimentally verifiable mechanisms. Studies limited to pure cataloguing or lacking functional/mechanistic focus fall outside the intended scope. To advance knowledge in this dynamic area, we welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Single-cell and spatial omics studies revealing molecular mechanisms in tumor immunity- Genome organization and epigenetic regulation of immune responses in cancer- RNA networks and non-coding RNA signaling in tumor–immune interactions- Protein biochemistry and molecular recognition during antigen processing, presentation, and immune signaling- Roles of lipids, membranes, and organelles in modulating immune activation or suppression- Metabolomics and the biochemistry of the tumor microenvironment- Structural and biophysical analyses of immune receptors and tumor-associated molecules- Nanobiotechnological innovations and diagnostics for immune monitoring in oncology- Computational or AI-driven models with direct experimental or functional validation**Appendix** We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Methods, and Hypothesis and Theory articles. Submissions based mainly on computational or omics analysis must include appropriate experimental validation or mechanistic investigation. Manuscripts limited to descriptive analysis or lacking clear molecular insight are not within the scope. Topic editors: Yanchuan Li, Chunchao Zhang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80404/mechanistic-insights-into-tumor-immunity-using-single-cell-spatial-omics-and-computational-approaches