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The Tumor Microenvironment

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...

The Tumor Microenvironment

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...

Tumor Immunotherapy

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.

Metastasis

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

A Mimic of the Tumor Microenvironment: A Simple Method for Generating Enriched Cell Populations and Investigating Intercellular Communication

A Mimic of the Tumor Microenvironment: A Simple Method for Generating Enriched Cell Populations and Investigating Intercellular Communication

Published on: September 20, 2016

The tumor microenvironment.

Lissa Baird¹, Alexey Terskikh

¹Division of Neurosurgery, UCSD Medical Center, San Diego, California, USA.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

|May 12, 2010

Summary

Cancer stem cells, similar to neural stem cells, drive brain tumor growth and survival. Understanding these cells within their microenvironment is crucial for cancer research and treatment.

Area of Science:

Stem cell biology
Developmental neurobiology
Cancer research

Background:

The cancer stem cell hypothesis suggests tumors contain a subpopulation of stem-like malignant cells.
This hypothesis is particularly relevant to brain tumors, where cancer stem cells mimic neural stem cell properties.
These cells are implicated in tumor initiation, survival, and proliferation.

Purpose of the Study:

To review evidence of brain tumor stem cells.
To explore the role of the tumor microenvironment in tumorgenesis.
To understand cancer stem cells within their biological context.

Main Methods:

Review of recent advances in stem cell and developmental neurobiology.
Analysis of studies isolating and characterizing brain tumor stem cells.

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Quantitative Immunohistochemistry of the Cellular Microenvironment in Patient Glioblastoma Resections

Quantitative Immunohistochemistry of the Cellular Microenvironment in Patient Glioblastoma Resections

Published on: July 31, 2017

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Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

A Mimic of the Tumor Microenvironment: A Simple Method for Generating Enriched Cell Populations and Investigating Intercellular Communication

A Mimic of the Tumor Microenvironment: A Simple Method for Generating Enriched Cell Populations and Investigating Intercellular Communication

Published on: September 20, 2016

Quantitative Immunohistochemistry of the Cellular Microenvironment in Patient Glioblastoma Resections

Quantitative Immunohistochemistry of the Cellular Microenvironment in Patient Glioblastoma Resections

Published on: July 31, 2017

Examination of the tumor microenvironment's influence on tumorgenesis.

Main Results:

Cancer stem cells isolated from brain tumors display characteristics of neural stem cells.
These cells possess the potential for tumor origin, survival, and proliferation.
The tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in the behavior of these cells.

Conclusions:

Brain tumor stem cells are a significant area of study in oncology.
The tumor microenvironment is essential for understanding brain tumor stem cell function.
Further research into cancer stem cells and their environment may lead to novel therapeutic strategies.