The Tumor Microenvironment: a Pitch for Multiple Players

Overview

Journal Front Oncol

Specialty Oncology

Date 2013 Apr 26

PMID 23616948

Citations 83

Authors

Giovanna Schiavoni

Lucia Gabriele

Fabrizio Mattei

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The cancer microenvironment may be conceptually regarded as a pitch where the main players are resident and non-resident cellular components, each covering a defined role and interconnected by a complex network of soluble mediators. The crosstalk between these cells and the tumor cells within this environment crucially determines the fate of tumor progression. Immune cells that infiltrate the tumor bed are transported there by blood circulation and exert a variety of effects, either counteracting or favoring tumor outgrowth. Here, we review and discuss the multiple populations composing the tumor bed, with special focus on immune cells subsets that positively or negatively dictate neoplastic progression. In this scenario, the contribution of cancer stem cells within the tumor microenvironment will also be discussed. Finally, we illustrate recent advances on new integrated approaches to investigate the tumor microenvironment in vitro.

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