Unraveling tumor microenvironment roles in bladder cancer progression and therapy response

Bladder cancer continues to be one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies worldwide, with current treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy often producing suboptimal results. After a radical cystectomy, a patient's five-year survival rate is approximately 66%, and the ten-year survival rate is 43%. This highlights a critical gap in established diagnostic and prognostic markers that are universally recognized for bladder cancer. The tumor microenvironment (TME), composed of both cellular and non-cellular elements, plays a significant role in dictating tumor behavior and influencing therapeutic outcomes. Though research has advanced significantly in understanding the TME's role, there remains gaps in knowledge about its comprehensive interactions.Recent evidence has brought to light the TME's function in bladder cancer, especially related to immunological checkpoints, with inhibitors such as PD-1/PD-L1 being incorporated into treatment protocols. Nonetheless, with a low efficacy range of 16-25%, these therapies underscore the need to further understand the TME's interactions. Current studies are increasingly identifying a range of immune-related genes that are proving critical to prognosis and treatment efficacy. This calls for an urgent exploration of immunophenotypes and the discovery of novel immune-based prognostic markers within the realm of bladder cancer.This Research Topic aims to provide novel insights into the TME's role in bladder cancer, focusing on diagnosis, risk assessment, and prognostic significance. It also seeks to enhance knowledge on the TME's predictive relevance regarding responsiveness to targeted therapies and chemotherapy. To gather further insights within this scope, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Discovery of immune-related prognostic biomarkers in bladder cancero Exploration of TME-immune system interactions influencing bladder cancer progressiono Innovations in immunotherapy targeting beyond PD-1/PD-L1 pathwayso Personalized treatment strategies leveraging TME insights for bladder cancero Development of new methodologies for TME-targeted therapeutic advancements Topic editors: Yongwen Luo, Ran Xu, David J. Benjamin, Wuran Wei Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83156/unraveling-tumor-microenvironment-roles-in-bladder-cancer-progression-and-therapy-response