Guest Editors
Tanya N. Augustine
School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Tanya N. Augustine is an Associate Professor in the School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. She was employed in 2007 as an Associate Lecturer in the School of Anatomical Sciences, during which time she completed her MSc, then PhD part-time (2014) investigating the heterotypic interaction between breast cancer and the immune system in a 3D model. She has established a research laboratory with a focus on tumour biology (thrombosis, immunology and evolution). Tanya serves as a reviewer on multiple accredited journals and as an editorial board member of selected journals. Tanya’s primary interest is in recreating the tumour microenvironment in vitro to better recapitulate in vivo biology.
Ekene Emmanuel Nweke
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Dr. Ekene Emmanuel Nweke obtained an MSc (cum laude in Molecular and Cell Biology) in 2015 and a PhD in 2017, from the University of Witwatersrand. He is a Researcher at the Department of Surgery, University of Witwatersrand. His current research interests involve the utilization of multi-omics technologies for biomarker discovery and elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in the development and progression of hepato-pancreatobiliary cancers amongst patients of African ancestry. He is also interested in the applications of precision medicine for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Kutlwano Rekgopetswe Xulu
School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Dr. Kutlwano Xulu is a lecturer at the School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand. She teaches histology and cell biology and is involved in postgraduate supervision. She completed her doctorate in 2020 focusing on reciprocal interactions between platelets and breast tumour cells in response to combined hormone therapy and antiplatelet therapy. The findings highlighted the sub-phenotypic differences in luminal A breast cancer cell lines. To further investigate this phenomenon her current research project is investigating tumour heterogeneity in breast and cervical cancer cells, in the hopes to better understand the underlying factors with may contribute to tumour recurrence and treatment resistance. Kutlwano’s research interest is broadly in tumour biology and influences of the tumour microenvironment. Our laboratory under the leadership of Tanya Augustine, conducts various techniques in investigating research questions, including cell culture, gene and protein expression, flow cytometry and microscopy (fluorescence and electron).
Collection Overview
Current trends in cancer research highlight the importance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in shaping disease progression. Immune regulation of tumor progression can occur through direct mechanisms involving cells and constituents of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Alternatively, it can manifest indirectly when other elements of the TME, such as platelets and cancer-associated fibroblasts, contribute to immune evasion or induce immunosuppression.
The challenge for researchers is thus to understand the complexity of TME and the dynamic reciprocity that drives the disease and mediates response to therapy. Preclinical models are powerful tools that can be used to recapitulate the clinical situation by unraveling tumor complexity and aiding in understanding cellular crosstalk within the TME.
This Methods Collection seeks to highlight the latest approaches to deconstructing the TME to investigate cellular crosstalk in preclinical models. The collection will include, but is not limited to:
- Preclinical models illustrating cellular crosstalk involving tumor cells, immune cells, platelets, and fibroblasts. These models may encompass 2D and 3D co-culture methods, microfluidic chips, and animal models.
- Downstream applications demonstrating the impact of tumor cells on immune parameters and vice versa. These applications may employ omics techniques, flow cytometry, protein and gene assays, as well as advanced imaging methods.
