A key hallmark of tumors is the cancer cell's ability to keep the host’s immune system at bay. These evasion mechanisms involve not only the expression of immunosuppressive surface proteins by the tumor cells themselves but also the complex microenvironment of the tumors, including the immunosuppressive cytokines that are released by the cancer cells. An increased understanding of tumor immune surveillance has led to immunotherapy emerging as a promising treatment strategy for several types of cancer tumors. To better understand the role of the tumor microenvironment on variations of cancer immune evasion, it is necessary to account for the tumor-immune interactions and cytokines originating from the tumor and from microenvironment interactions. In response to such barriers, several methods for studying tumor-immune interactions and response to immunotherapies are crucially required.

Examples of methods to be included in this collection are: spheroids, organoids, hydrogels, 3D scaffolds, 3D bio-printing, and microfluidics attempting the recreation of certain aspects of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, tumor-immune interactions and their influence on immunotherapies’ responses. Of particular interest are models taking into account patient heterogeneity in a precision-based manner and models recapitulating key physiologically relevant components of the tumor microenvironment.