Impact of Tumor Microenvironment Composition on Therapeutic Responses and Clinical Outcomes in Cancer

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in cancer growth and progression. Paradoxically, the TME is capable of acting as both a potential barrier and facilitator of tumor proliferation by affecting various processes including local growth resistance, immune system interactions, and the formation of distant metastases. This important interaction between cancer cells and their local environment, composed of immune cells, angiogenic cells, lymphatic endothelial cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts is paramount to determine a cancer cell’s ability to grow and ultimately metastasize. It is essential to understand this complex interplay in order to define treatment modalities to target the TME as part of anti-cancer therapy.

Graphical abstract

Composition of the tumor microenvironment and associated actionable targets.

Keywords::

• biomarkers
• immunotherapy
• molecular oncology
• oncogenes

Financial & competing interests disclosure

M Zibelman receives institution-directed research funding from Horizon Pharma and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He has participated in advisory boards for EMD-Serono and Pfizer. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

M Zibelman receives institution-directed research funding from Horizon Pharma and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He has participated in advisory boards for EMD-Serono and Pfizer. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.