Tumor microenvironment: Interactions and therapy

Abstract

Tumor microenvironment (TME) is a host for a complex network of heterogeneous stromal cells with overlapping or opposing functions depending on the dominant signals within this milieu. Reciprocal paracrine interactions between cancer cells with cells within the tumor stroma often reshape the TME in favor of the promotion of tumor. These complex interactions require more sophisticated approaches for cancer therapy, and, therefore, advancing knowledge about dominant drivers of cancer within the TME is critical for designing therapeutic schemes. This review will provide knowledge about TME architecture, multiple signaling, and cross communications between cells within this milieu, and its targeting for immunotherapy of cancer.

Keywords: cancer cell; cancer-associated fibroblast; cytotoxic T lymphocyte; exosome; extracellular matrix; hypoxia; immunosuppression; interaction (cross-talk); regulatory T; tumor microenvironment; tumor-associated macrophage.