Submission Deadline: June 30, 2026

Chief Guest Editor:

Yunxiang Zhou  
The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine

Co-Guest Editors:

Yi-Zhou Gao  
School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University

 

Special Issue Information:

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue of Trends in Immunotherapy is dedicated to unraveling the dynamic interplay between immune responses and inflammatory pathways in cancer, a pivotal axis influencing tumorigenesis, progression, and therapeutic outcomes. The immuno-inflammatory crosstalk shapes the tumor microenvironment (TME), modulates immune evasion, and determines responses to conventional and emerging therapies. Understanding these interactions holds transformative potential for precision oncology, from mechanistic insights to clinical applications.

Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of cancer, driving genetic instability, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression. Conversely, immune activation can either suppress or promote tumor growth, depending on contextual signals. This issue seeks to compile cutting-edge research and reviews on the molecular mechanisms underlying this duality, including cytokine networks, immune checkpoint dynamics, metabolic reprogramming, and microbiome influences. We also highlight advances in biomarkers (e.g., soluble mediators, cellular subsets, genomic signatures) that predict therapeutic responses or resistance. Translational perspectives will cover innovative strategies such as combinatory immunotherapy, targeting inflammasomes, or repurposing anti-inflammatory agents to enhance antitumor immunity.

We invite submissions that bridge basic science and clinical innovation, including studies on immune-inflammatory circuits in rare or refractory cancers, disparities in immune responses, and novel technologies (e.g., single-cell omics, spatial transcriptomics) to decode the TME. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, this issue aims to accelerate the development of tailored immunotherapies and biomarker-driven approaches for improved patient outcomes. For planned papers, a title and short abstract can be sent to the Editorial Office shy@ukscip.com for announcement on this website. 

Guest Editor(s)
Yunxiang Zhou
Yi-Zhou Gao

Keywords:

• Tumor microenvironment
• Cancer-associated inflammation
• Immune checkpoint modulation
• Cytokine networks
• Predictive biomarkers
• mmunometabolism
• Inflammasome signaling
• Combinatorial immunotherapy
• Microbiome-immune axis
• Translational immuno-oncology