The tumour microenvironment as an integrated framework to understand cancer biology

Autores de INCLIVA

• Rebeca Burgos Panadero

  Autor

• Federico Lucantoni

  Autor

• Esther Gamero Sandemetrio

  Autor

• 

  Rosa Noguera Salva

  Autor

Participantes ajenos a INCLIVA

• de la Cruz-Merino, L
• Alvaro, T

Grupos y Plataformas de I+D+i

• Grupo de Investigación Translacional de Tumores Sólidos Pediátricos

  

  Leading Researcher

  Samuel Navarro Fos

Abstract

Cancer cells all share the feature of being immersed in a complex environment with altered element communication, physicochemical information, and tissue functions. The so-called tumour microenvironment (TME) is becoming recognised as a key factor in the genesis, progression and treatment of cancer lesions. Beyond genetic mutations, the existence of a malignant microenvironment forms the basis for a new perspective in cancer biology where connections at the system level are fundamental. From this standpoint, different aspects of tumour lesions such as morphology, aggressiveness, prognosis and treatment response can be considered under an integrated vision, giving rise to a new field of study and clinical management. Nowadays, somatic mutation theory is complemented with study of TME components such as the extracellular matrix, immune compartment, stromal cells, metabolism and biophysical forces. In this review we examine recent studies in this area and complement them with our own research data to propose a classification of stromal changes. Exploring these avenues and gaining insight into malignant phenotype remodelling, could reveal better ways to characterize this disease and its potential treatment.

© 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/)

Keywords

• Biophysics; Bioelectric; Metabolism; Cancer treatment; Extracellular matrix; Stromal classification