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Updated: May 13, 2026

A Novel Stromal Fibroblast-Modulated 3D Tumor Spheroid Model for Studying Tumor-Stroma Interaction and Drug Discovery
07:20

A Novel Stromal Fibroblast-Modulated 3D Tumor Spheroid Model for Studying Tumor-Stroma Interaction and Drug Discovery

Published on: February 28, 2020

The role of tumour-stromal interactions in modifying drug response: challenges and opportunities

Douglas W McMillin1, Joseph M Negri, Constantine S Mitsiades

  • 1Department of Medical Oncology, DanaFarber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.

Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery
|March 2, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Stromal cells and the tumor microenvironment significantly influence anticancer drug effectiveness. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing new cancer therapeutics and improving patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The tumor microenvironment (TME) and its stromal components play a critical role in cancer progression and treatment response.
  • Tumor-stromal interactions influence cancer cell signaling, survival, proliferation, and sensitivity to therapeutic agents.
  • The TME's context-dependent nature can lead to either resistance or sensitization of tumor cells to various anticancer drugs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss how tumor-stromal interactions modulate tumor sensitivity to anticancer therapeutics.
  • To emphasize the impact of the microenvironmental context on drug resistance or sensitization.
  • To highlight the importance of mechanistic understanding for selecting effective cancer agents.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on tumor-stromal interactions and their effect on therapeutic efficacy.
  • Discussion of advancements in in vitro screening platforms.
  • Analysis of data from orthotopic and 'orthometastatic' xenograft mouse models for TME characterization.

Main Results:

  • Stromal cells can confer drug resistance or sensitization to tumor cells based on the specific microenvironmental context.
  • Mechanistic insights into TME interactions can guide the evaluation and selection of anticancer agents.
  • Preclinical models are improving the characterization of TME impact on therapeutic efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding tumor-stromal interactions is essential for developing effective anticancer therapeutics.
  • The tumor microenvironment significantly impacts drug sensitivity, influencing treatment strategies for primary and metastatic cancers.
  • Advances in preclinical models are crucial for bridging the gap between laboratory research and clinical application of cancer therapies.

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