Guest Editors
Professor Maria Letizia Motti
Email: letizia.motti@uniparthenope.it
Affiliation: Department of Medical, Human Movement and Well-Being Sciences, University of Naples Parthenope, Naples, 80133, Italy
Homepage:
Research Interests: Tumor cell biology, targeted therapy, molecular oncology, cancer biology
Professor Immacolata Belviso
Email: immacolata.belviso@unipegaso.it
Affiliation: Department of Psychology and Health Sciences, Telematic University Pegaso, Naples, 80143, Italy
Homepage:
Research Interests: Advanced cancer modelling, cell culture, western blot analysis, cell signaling, immunofluorescence, cancer biology
Summary
Over the past decade, cancer research has undergone a significant conceptual shift, moving from a view focused exclusively on tumor cells to a broader and more integrated understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor progression is now recognized as the result of dynamic and reciprocal interactions among malignant cells, stromal cells such as fibroblasts, immune cells, endothelial cells, the extracellular matrix, and a complex network of signaling cues that collectively shape tumor growth, metastasis, and therapeutic response.
This evolution has driven the development of advanced experimental models capable of more accurately recapitulating the complexity of the TME. Three-dimensional cellular systems have emerged as valuable alternatives to conventional two-dimensional cultures and traditional in vivo models, enabling the study of multicellular interactions in a physiologically relevant context. These models have also highlighted the central role of cellular mechanics and mechanotransduction, showing how physical forces and matrix properties actively regulate tumor behavior.
By providing a more predictive and biologically relevant framework, these approaches are reshaping cancer research. This Special Issue invites contributions exploring cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions within the tumor microenvironment, including stromal, immune, and endothelial cells, using diverse experimental approaches, including advanced three-dimensional models, with the goal of advancing our understanding of cancer biology and therapeutic response.
Keywords
Tumor microenvironment, cell–cell interactions, cell–matrix interactions, stromal cells, immune cells, endothelial cells, advanced experimental models
Login
Register
Submit a Paper
Propose a Special lssue