In certain cases tumor cells invade a foreign tissue, but fail to colonize it; in effect, they remain dormant. What causes the inability of these cells to successfully establish secondary tumors? They may be incapable of promoting sufficient angiogenesis, or they may be unable to reproduce, either of which might be due to a lack of the proper interactions between the tumor cell and its new environment. Additional mutations appear to be required for these cells to overcome the difficulties encountered in new tissues(1)
Dissecting the interactions of the tumor and its environment is very challenging. The vast number of growth factors, cytokines, and other factors present, as well as the many signaling pathways involved in cross-talk between these two entities makes mechanisms difficult to unravel, and almost any outcome is seemingly possible. However, the importance of the tumor microenvironment is now very obvious, and as more is learned about it, greater numbers of therapeutic strategies targeting the environment alone or in conjunction with the tumor itself will become available.
Learn more about tumor-host interactions.
Print
Email Page
