Tumor development and progression are dependent on the cross talk between tumor cells, stromal cells, immune cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The TME consists of various cells such as myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), Tumor Associated Macrophages (TAMs) and Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that contribute to immune cell dysfunction in the TME.
Tumor cells interact with the stroma and ECM leading to a remodeling of the tumor environment into a hypoxic and metabolically active state. In addition, tumors interact with immune cells promoting inflammatory responses that maintain tumor metastasis. Fibroblasts and other stromal cells in turn secrete cytokine responses to recruit immune cells thereby contributing to tumor metastasis.
In TME cancer cells directly interact with both the immune system and the stroma and in turn the stroma responds with pro-inflammatory and anti-tumor makers.
We aim to understand the interactions between stroma-cancer cells and immune system.
