Cell–Microenvironment Crosstalk, Models, and Molecular Mechanisms in Rhabdomyosarcoma: Current and Future Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that we present to you this Special Issue of Medical Sciences. This issue aims at investigating the latest aspects under study to unveil the complexity of Rhabdomyosarcoma. The prognosis of this pediatric disease has improved significantly in recent years, but the outcome of patients with metastatic or refractory RMS remains dismal. Therefore, new treatment options targeting both malignant tumors and the context in which they live are paramount. Malignant cells do not act alone in cancer progression but need enduring interactions and crosstalk with supporting cell types and extracellular matrix components (ECM) that form the tumor microenvironment. The former includes cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), myofibroblasts, and other cells, generally known as stromal cells. Generally, in tumors, CAFs exhibit enhanced proliferation and are responsible for the production and deposition of soluble and insoluble extracellular matrix molecules, such as collagens, structural proteoglycans, proteolytic enzymes, and growth factors. Soluble molecules present in close proximity to tumor cells bind to membrane receptors and initiate intracellular signaling cascades necessary to sustain proliferation, angiogenesis, and initiation of invasion and metastasis.

In this view, the present Special Issue aims to collect new aspects that are under exploration on the rhabdomyosarcoma microenvironment and tumor progression, considering the following aspects:

1. The microenvironment;
2. The immunoenvironment;
3. Extracellular vesicles;
4. Models to study rhabdomyosarcoma progression.

We look forward to receiving your contributions summarizing or explaining your research to this Special Issue.

Dr. Michela Pozzobon
Dr. Silvia Codenotti
Dr. Claudia Fuoco
Dr. Alessandro Fanzani
Guest Editors

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• rhabdomyosarcoma
• microenvironment
• cancer cells
• extracellular vesicles

• Cell–Microenvironment Crosstalk, Models, and Molecular Mechanisms in Rhabdomyosarcoma: Current and Future Perspectives in Cells (2 articles)