scholarly journals Biological mechanisms linked to inflammation in cancer: Discovery of tumor microenvironment-related biomarkers and their clinical application in solid tumors

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Nisticò ◽  
Gennaro Ciliberto
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Cancer Biology ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Short Paper ◽  
Great Relevance ◽  
Cellular Components ◽  
The Relationship

Our view of cancer biology radically shifted from a “cancer-cell-centric” vision to a view of cancer as an organ disease. The concept that genetic and/or epigenetic alterations, at the basis of cancerogenesis, are the main if not the exclusive drivers of cancer development and the principal targets of therapy, has now evolved to include the tumor microenvironment in which tumor cells can grow, proliferate, survive, and metastasize only within a favorable environment. The interplay between cancer cells and the non-cellular and cellular components of the tumor microenvironment plays a fundamental role in tumor development and evolution both at the primary site and at the level of metastasis. The shape of the tumor cells and tumor mass is the resultant of several contrasting forces either pro-tumoral or anti-tumoral which have at the level of the tumor microenvironment their battle field. This crucial role of tumor microenvironment composition in cancer progression also dictates whether immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitor antibodies is going to be efficacious. Hence, tumor microenvironment deconvolution has become of great relevance in order to identify biomarkers predictive of efficacy of immunotherapy. In this short paper we will briefly review the relationship between inflammation and cancer, and will summarize in 10 short points the key concepts learned so far and the open challenges to be solved.

scholarly journals The Roles of Stroma-Derived Chemokine in Different Stages of Cancer Metastases

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahid Hussain ◽  
Bo Peng ◽  
Mathew Cherian ◽  
Jonathan W. Song ◽  
Dinesh K. Ahirwar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Metastatic Niche ◽  
Cancer Pathogenesis ◽  
Cancer Metastases ◽  
Cellular Components

The intricate interplay between malignant cells and host cellular and non-cellular components play crucial role in different stages of tumor development, progression, and metastases. Tumor and stromal cells communicate to each other through receptors such as integrins and secretion of signaling molecules like growth factors, cytokines, chemokines and inflammatory mediators. Chemokines mediated signaling pathways have emerged as major mechanisms underlying multifaceted roles played by host cells during tumor progression. In response to tumor stimuli, host cells-derived chemokines further activates signaling cascades that support the ability of tumor cells to invade surrounding basement membrane and extra-cellular matrix. The host-derived chemokines act on endothelial cells to increase their permeability and facilitate tumor cells intravasation and extravasation. The tumor cells-host neutrophils interaction within the vasculature initiates chemokines driven recruitment of inflammatory cells that protects circulatory tumor cells from immune attack. Chemokines secreted by tumor cells and stromal immune and non-immune cells within the tumor microenvironment enter the circulation and are responsible for formation of a “pre-metastatic niche” like a “soil” in distant organs whereby circulating tumor cells “seed’ and colonize, leading to formation of metastatic foci. Given the importance of host derived chemokines in cancer progression and metastases several drugs like Mogamulizumab, Plerixafor, Repertaxin among others are part of ongoing clinical trial which target chemokines and their receptors against cancer pathogenesis. In this review, we focus on recent advances in understanding the complexity of chemokines network in tumor microenvironment, with an emphasis on chemokines secreted from host cells. We especially summarize the role of host-derived chemokines in different stages of metastases, including invasion, dissemination, migration into the vasculature, and seeding into the pre-metastatic niche. We finally provide a brief description of prospective drugs that target chemokines in different clinical trials against cancer.

scholarly journals Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF): fuel for cancer progression

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saurabh Satija ◽  
Harpreet Kaur ◽  
Murtaza M. Tambuwala ◽  
Prabal Sharma ◽  
Manish Vyas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Oxygen Deficiency ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Transcription Factor Activation ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Adaptive Reactions

Hypoxia is an integral part of tumor microenvironment, caused primarily due to rapidly multiplying tumor cells and a lack of proper blood supply. Among the major hypoxic pathways, HIF-1 transcription factor activation is one of the widely investigated pathways in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME). HIF-1 is known to activate several adaptive reactions in response to oxygen deficiency in tumor cells. HIF-1 has two subunits, HIF-1β (constitutive) and HIF-1α (inducible). The HIF-1α expression is largely regulated via various cytokines (through PI3K-ACT-mTOR signals), which involves the cascading of several growth factors and oncogenic cascades. These events lead to the loss of cellular tumor suppressant activity through changes in the level of oxygen via oxygen-dependent and oxygen-independent pathways. The significant and crucial role of HIF in cancer progression and its underlying mechanisms have gained much attention lately among the translational researchers in the fields of cancer and biological sciences, which have enabled them to correlate these mchanisms with various other disease modalities. In the present review, we have summarized the key findings related to the role of HIF in the progression of tumors.

scholarly journals An Overview of the Role of Mechanical Stretching in the Progression of Lung Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengying Gong ◽  
Yuchao Yang ◽  
Liangtao Wen ◽  
Congrong Wang ◽  
Jingjun Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Mechanical Load ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Mechanical Factors ◽  
Tissue Characteristics ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Mechanical Stretching

Cells and tissues in the human body are subjected to mechanical forces of varying degrees, such as tension or pressure. During tumorigenesis, physical factors, especially mechanical factors, are involved in tumor development. As lung tissue is influenced by movements associated with breathing, it is constantly subjected to cyclical stretching and retraction; therefore, lung cancer cells and lung cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are constantly exposed to mechanical load. Thus, to better explore the mechanisms involved in lung cancer progression, it is necessary to consider factors involved in cell mechanics, which may provide a more comprehensive analysis of tumorigenesis. The purpose of this review is: 1) to provide an overview of the anatomy and tissue characteristics of the lung and the presence of mechanical stimulation; 2) to summarize the role of mechanical stretching in the progression of lung cancer; and 3) to describe the relationship between mechanical stretching and the lung cancer microenvironment, especially CAFs.

scholarly journals The role of microenvironment in tumor angiogenesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianjie Jiang ◽  
Jie Wang ◽  
Xiangying Deng ◽  
Fang Xiong ◽  
Shanshan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Tumor Angiogenesis ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Invasion And Metastasis ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Survival And Development ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
Conducive Environment

Abstract Tumor angiogenesis is necessary for the continued survival and development of tumor cells, and plays an important role in their growth, invasion, and metastasis. The tumor microenvironment—composed of tumor cells, surrounding cells, and secreted cytokines—provides a conducive environment for the growth and survival of tumors. Different components of the tumor microenvironment can regulate tumor development. In this review, we have discussed the regulatory role of the microenvironment in tumor angiogenesis. High expression of angiogenic factors and inflammatory cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, as well as hypoxia, are presumed to be the reasons for poor therapeutic efficacy of current anti-angiogenic drugs. A combination of anti-angiogenic drugs and antitumor inflammatory drugs or hypoxia inhibitors might improve the therapeutic outcome.

scholarly journals The Role of Tumor Microenvironment Cells in Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Cachexia

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1565
Author(s):  
Aldona Kasprzak
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Systemic Inflammation ◽  
Cancer Cachexia ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Cells ◽  
Factor Α ◽  
Cellular Components

Cancer cachexia (CC) is a multifactorial syndrome in patients with advanced cancer characterized by weight loss via skeletal-muscle and adipose-tissue atrophy, catabolic activity, and systemic inflammation. CC is correlated with functional impairment, reduced therapeutic responsiveness, and poor prognosis, and is a major cause of death in cancer patients. In colorectal cancer (CRC), cachexia affects around 50–61% of patients, but remains overlooked, understudied, and uncured. The mechanisms driving CC are not fully understood but are related, at least in part, to the local and systemic immune response to the tumor. Accumulating evidence demonstrates a significant role of tumor microenvironment (TME) cells (e.g., macrophages, neutrophils, and fibroblasts) in both cancer progression and tumor-induced cachexia, through the production of multiple procachectic factors. The most important role in CRC-associated cachexia is played by pro-inflammatory cytokines, including the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), originally known as cachectin, Interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and certain chemokines (e.g., IL-8). Heterogeneous CRC cells themselves also produce numerous cytokines (including chemokines), as well as novel factors called “cachexokines”. The tumor microenvironment (TME) contributes to systemic inflammation and increased oxidative stress and fibrosis. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of TME cellular components in CRC-associated cachexia, as well as discusses the potential role of selected mediators secreted by colorectal cancer cells in cooperation with tumor-associated immune and non-immune cells of tumor microenvironment in inducing or potentiating cancer cachexia. This knowledge serves to aid the understanding of the mechanisms of this process, as well as prevent its consequences.

Cancer Immunology and Immuno-Oncology (Innate vs. Adaptive Cell Immunity)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nariman Nezami ◽  
Carlos J. Sanchez ◽  
John Moon ◽  
Jamil Shaikh ◽  
Nima Kokabi
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Metastasis ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Cell Immunity ◽  
Complex Ecosystem ◽  
Cellular Components

AbstractTumorigenesis occurs due to both intrinsic cellular genetic changes and imbalances within the tumor microenvironment. This microenvironment is composed of a complex ecosystem of tumor cells, vasculature, extracellular matrix, stromal cells, and immune cells. With these cells, there is both immune activation and immune suppression that promote or inhibit tumor development. These interactions lead to a constant flux of remodeling within the tumor microenvironment that additionally promote or inhibits tumor metastasis. To promote or suppress either antitumorigenic or protumorigenic effects, it is important to understand the complex interactions of the tumor and its interactions with the immune system within the tumor microenvironment. This review article addresses the role of the immune system and its cellular components within the tumor microenvironment.

scholarly journals Prognostic and Predictive Significance of Stromal Fibroblasts and Macrophages in Colon Cancer

2015 ◽  
Vol 7s1 ◽  
pp. BIC.S25247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Y. Owusu ◽  
Mudit Vaid ◽  
Pawan Kaler ◽  
Lidija Klampfer
Keyword(s):  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Epigenetic Alterations ◽  
Stromal Fibroblasts ◽  
Therapeutic Drugs ◽  
Colon Cancer Progression ◽  
Prognostic And Predictive Factors

Colon cancer development and malignant progression are driven by genetic and epigenetic alterations in tumor cells and by factors from the tumor microenvironment. Cancer cells become reliant on the activity of specific oncogenes and on prosurvival and proliferative signals they receive from the abnormal environment they create and reside in. Accordingly, the response to anticancer therapy is determined by genetic and epigenetic changes that are intrinsic to tumor cells and by the factors present in the tumor microenvironment. Recent advances in the understanding of the involvement of the tumor microenvironment in tumor progression and therapeutic response are optimizing the application of prognostic and predictive factors in colon cancer. Moreover, new targets in the tumor microenvironment that are amenable to therapeutic intervention have been identified. Because stromal cells are with rare exceptions genetically stable, the tumor microenvironment has emerged as a preferred target for therapeutic drugs. In this review, we discuss the role of stromal fibroblasts and macrophages in colon cancer progression and in the response of colon cancer patients to therapy.

scholarly journals Lactate in the Tumor Microenvironment: An Essential Molecule in Cancer Progression and Treatment

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3244
Author(s):  
Ricardo Pérez-Tomás ◽  
Isabel Pérez-Guillén
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Lactate Production ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Tumor Resistance ◽  
Proliferating Cells ◽  
Extracellular Lactate

Cancer is a complex disease that includes the reprogramming of metabolic pathways by malignant proliferating cells, including those affecting the tumor microenvironment (TME). The “TME concept” was introduced in recognition of the roles played by factors other than tumor cells in cancer progression. In response to the hypoxic or semi-hypoxic characteristic of the TME, cancer cells generate a large amount of lactate via the metabolism of glucose and glutamine. Export of this newly generated lactate by the tumor cells together with H+ prevents intracellular acidification but acidifies the TME. In recent years, the importance of lactate and acidosis in carcinogenesis has gained increasing attention, including the role of lactate as a tumor-promoting metabolite. Here we review the existing literature on lactate metabolism in tumor cells and the ability of extracellular lactate to direct the metabolic reprogramming of those cells. Studies demonstrating the roles of lactate in biological processes that drive or sustain carcinogenesis (tumor promotion, angiogenesis, metastasis and tumor resistance) and lactate’s role as an immunosuppressor that contributes to tumor evasion are also considered. Finally, we consider recent therapeutic efforts using available drugs directed at and interfering with lactate production and transport in cancer treatment.

scholarly journals Mutant p53—a potential player in shaping the tumor–stroma crosstalk

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 600-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Stein ◽  
Ronit Aloni-Grinstein ◽  
Varda Rotter
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Tumor Stroma ◽  
P53 Mutation ◽  
Mutant P53 ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Recruitment Process ◽  
Cellular Components

Abstract A plethora of studies suggest that the non-transformed cellular and non-cellular components of the tumor, collectively known as the tumor microenvironment, have a significant impact on the tumorigenic process. It was suggested that the microenvironment, which initially restricts tumor development, is recruited by the tumor and maintains a crosstalk that further promotes cancer progression. Indeed, many of the molecules that participate in the tumor–stroma crosstalk have been characterized. However, the crucial factors that are responsible for the initiation of this crosstalk or the ‘recruitment’ process remain poorly understood. We propose that oncogenes themselves may influence the ‘recruitment’ of the stromal cells, while focusing on mutant p53. Apart from losing its tumor-suppressing properties, mutant p53 gains novel oncogenic functions, a phenomenon dubbed mutant p53 gain of function (GOF). Here, we discuss possible ways in which mutant p53 may modulate the microenvironment in order to promote tumorigenesis. We thus propose that mutant p53 may serve as a key player in the modulation of the tumor–stroma crosstalk in a way that benefits the tumor. Further elucidation of these ‘recruitment’ processes, dictated by mutant p53, may be utilized for tailoring personalized therapeutic approaches for patients with tumors that harbor p53 mutation.

scholarly journals Exosome-mediated metabolic reprogramming: the emerging role in tumor microenvironment remodeling and its influence on cancer progression

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enli Yang ◽  
Xuan Wang ◽  
Zhiyuan Gong ◽  
Miao Yu ◽  
Haiwei Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Energy Demands

Abstract Metabolic reprogramming is reported to be one of the hallmarks of cancer, which is an adaptive mechanism by which fast-growing cancer cells adapt to their increasing energy demands. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) known as exosomes have been recognized as crucial signaling mediators in regulating the tumor microenvironment (TME). Meanwhile, the TME is a highly heterogeneous ecosystem incorporating cancer cells, fibroblasts, adipocytes, endothelial cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and extracellular matrix. Accumulated evidence indicates that exosomes may transfer biologically functional molecules to the recipient cells, which facilitate cancer progression, angiogenesis, metastasis, drug resistance, and immunosuppression by reprogramming the metabolism of cancer cells and their surrounding stromal cells. In this review, we present the role of exosomes in the TME and the underlying mechanism of how exosomes exacerbate tumor development through metabolic reprogramming. In addition, we will also discuss the potential role of exosomes targeting metabolic process as biomarkers for tumor diagnosis and prognosis, and exosomes-mediated metabolic reprogramming as potential targets for cancer therapy. Furthermore, a better understanding of the link between exosomes and metabolic reprogramming, and their impact on cancer progression, would provide novel insights for cancer prevention and treatment in the future.

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