[TME Roster]

The Tumor Microenvironment [TME] Study Section reviews grant applications that deal with basic mechanisms of cancer cell interactions with host systems including: immune, inflammatory, stromal, vascular, and extracellular matrix.  Emphasis is on evaluation of the tumor as an organ-like structure with complex, dynamic cross-talk.  Included are studies of cell adhesion molecules, cell-cell interactions and alterations of extracellular matrix.  Studies of tumor angiogenesis, involvement of tumor lymphatic components, and organ-specific metastasis are assigned to this study section. 

Specific areas covered by TME include:

• Molecular and cellular aspects of tumor cell biology (including gap junctions, adherens, and tight junctions) and cross-talk with host cells (including connective tissue cells, immune cells, inflammatory cells, and vascular compartments). 
  
  
• Bi-directional interactions (feedback) during neoplastic progression, angiogenesis and metastasis. 
  
  
• Cellular and molecular aspects of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and transactivation as it relates to tumor progression.
  
  
• Development and exploration of physiologically responsive organotypic models, and models of other tissue-like processes such as angiogenesis, that allow investigation of tumor cells in the context of a tissue-like environment. 
  
  
• Evaluation of cell-matrix adhesion and its dynamic changes during tumor progression.  Dynamics of cell-cell communication for cell survival, growth, and invasion.  Included are studies of inter-cellular signaling and production of paracrine factors (including TGF-beta) that regulate matrix formation and remodeling.
  
  
• Development and investigation of models for studying organ-specific metastases, including crucial interactions between metastatic cells and bone/bone marrow microenvironment or with other site-specific organs. 

TME has the following shared interests within the ONC IRG:

• With Tumor Cell Biology [TCB]: Growth factors in the context of intracellular signaling could be assigned to TCB; growth factor biology, as it affects tumor progression and metastasis, could be assigned to TME.
  
  
• With Tumor Cell Biology [TCB]:  Activity of modulators of tumor cell adhesion, shape, motility, and invasion as it pertains to intracellular signaling pathways could be assigned to TCB, whereas applications dealing with signals from cells and extracellular matrix could be assigned to TME.
  
  
• With Tumor Progression and Metastasis [TPM]: Studies that focus on the role of angiogenesis for progression of tumors could be assigned to TPM; studies of angiogenesis, as it relates to the tumor microenvironment, could be assigned to TME. 
  
  
• With Cancer Biomarkers [CBSS] regarding "host factors" such as immune signatures and vascular compartments.  If the study concerns development of diagnostic biomarkers it could be assigned to CBSS, otherwise it could be assigned to TME.
  
  
• With Radiation Therapeutics and Biology [RTB] regarding tumor microenvironment:  Studies of tumor microenvironment that relate to radiation biology (e.g., hypoxia) could be assigned to RTB; other studies of tumor microenvironment could be assigned to TME.

TME has the following shared interests outside the ONC IRG:

• With the Hematology [HEME] and Cardiovascular Sciences [CVS] IRGs: In general, studies of angiogenesis that are focused on developmentally related processes or reactivation of embryonic processes could be assigned to HEME or CVS; studies focused on tumor angiogenesis could be assigned to TME.
  
  
• With the Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and Reproductive Sciences [EMNR] IRG:  In general, studies of the interaction of hormones with endocrine glands or reproductive organs and their microenvironment could be assigned to EMNR; studies of hormonal regulation of endocrine tumors could be assigned to EMNR and hormonal regulation of other tumors to TME. 
  
  
• With the Musculoskeletal, Oral, and Skin Sciences [MOSS] IRG: In general, studies of the interaction of musculosketal, oral, skin, and bone cells with the tumor microenvironments could be assigned to MOSS; studies focused on tumor cell- microenvironment interactions could be assigned to TME.
  
  
• With the Digestive Sciences [DIG] IRG: In general, studies of the interactions of pre-neoplastic cells of the GI, liver, or pancreas with their microenvironments could be assigned to DIG; studies of the interactions of tumor cells from GI, liver or pancreatic with their microenvironment could be assigned to TME.