Editorial: Crosstalk in tumor microenvironments: shaping early drug and immunotherapy strategies

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is no longer considered as an inert bystander but rather as a complex and dynamic ecosystem that profoundly interacts with cancer cells directly affecting tumor evolution, therapeutic resistance, and immune evasion. Malignant cells coexist with stromal, immune and endothelial cell populations, as well as with extracellular matrix (ECM), generating an intricate system of reciprocal interactions that critically determine disease trajectory. With the advent of single-cell sequencing, spatial omics, and high-resolution imaging, the field has moved beyond binary simplistic classifications of pro-tumor versus anti-tumor components. These technologies now enable unprecedented insight into cellular heterogeneity, lineage evolution, spatial architecture, and communication circuits that shape cancer progression. The goal of this Research Topic, “Crosstalk in Tumor Microenvironments: Shaping Early Drug and Immunotherapy Strategies”, is to gather studies that deepen our understanding of TME-mediated mechanisms relevant to early-stage drug development and immunotherapy design.