Abstract
Cancers represent complex ecosystems comprising tumor cells and a multitude of non-cancerous cells, embedded in an altered extracellular matrix. The tumor microenvironment (TME) includes diverse immune cell types, cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, pericytes, and various additional tissue-resident cell types. These host cells were once considered bystanders of tumorigenesis but are now known to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of cancer. The cellular composition and functional state of the TME can differ extensively depending on the organ in which the tumor arises, the intrinsic features of cancer cells, the tumor stage, and patient characteristics. Here, we review the importance of the TME in each stage of cancer progression, from tumor initiation, progression, invasion, and intravasation to metastatic dissemination and outgrowth. Understanding the complex interplay between tumor cell-intrinsic, cell-extrinsic, and systemic mediators of disease progression is critical for the rational development of effective anti-cancer treatments.
Keywords
IntravasationTumor microenvironmentCancerCarcinogenesisCancer cellBiologyTumor progressionMetastasisCancer researchExtracellular matrixImmune systemTumor initiationImmunologyCell biology
MeSH Terms
HumansEndothelial CellsEcosystemNeoplasmsCarcinogenesisCell TransformationNeoplasticTumor Microenvironment
Affiliated Institutions
Related Publications
Fibroblasts in cancer
Tumours are known as wounds that do not heal - this implies that cells that are involved in angiogenesis and the response to injury, such as endothelial cells and fibroblasts, h...
TIMER2.0 for analysis of tumor-infiltrating immune cells
Abstract Tumor progression and the efficacy of immunotherapy are strongly influenced by the composition and abundance of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Due to the l...
Bypassing cellular EGF receptor dependence through epithelial-to-mesenchymal-like transitions
Over 90% of all cancers are carcinomas, malignancies derived from cells of epithelial origin. As carcinomas progress, these tumors may lose epithelial morphology and acquire mes...
Immune Regulation of Cancer
Innate and adaptive immune system cells play a major role in regulating the growth of cancer. Although it is commonly thought that an immune response localized to the tumor will...
Publication Info
- Year
- 2023
- Type
- review
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 374-403
- Citations
- 2748
- Access
- Closed
External Links
Social Impact
Altmetric
PlumX Metrics
Social media, news, blog, policy document mentions
Citation Metrics
2748
OpenAlex
39
Influential
2647
CrossRef
Cite This
Karin E. de Visser,
Johanna A. Joyce
(2023).
The evolving tumor microenvironment: From cancer initiation to metastatic outgrowth.
Cancer Cell
, 41
(3)
, 374-403.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2023.02.016
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.02.016
- PMID
- 36917948