The immune microenvironment: a major player in human cancers
1Cancer, Immune Control and Escape, UMRS1138, Cordeliers Research Center, Paris, France.
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology
|May 24, 2014
Summary
Cancer progression involves complex interactions between tumor cells and the immune microenvironment. High densities of specific immune cells like memory T cells correlate with better patient outcomes and can guide cancer immunotherapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Cancer is a leading global cause of death, characterized by genetic mutations and cellular changes leading to invasion and metastasis.
- Tumor cells interact with a complex microenvironment comprising stromal and immune cells, influencing disease progression.
- Immune cell infiltration within tumors varies, with some promoting and others inhibiting cancer growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the immune contexture of human primary and metastatic tumors.
- To elucidate the impact of the tumor immune microenvironment on patient outcomes.
- To explore the potential of immune contexture as a predictive biomarker for guiding immunotherapies.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of existing literature on tumor immunology and cancer biology.
- Analysis of the roles of various immune cell subsets within the tumor microenvironment.
- Correlation of immune cell densities and tertiary lymphoid structures with patient prognosis.
Main Results:
- Effector memory T cells, particularly Th1/CD8 cytotoxic T cells, are crucial in controlling tumor invasion and metastasis.
- High densities of intratumoral Th1/CD8 T cells and the presence of tertiary lymphoid structures correlate with favorable patient prognosis.
- Tumors can evade immune surveillance through genetic and epigenetic modifications.
Conclusions:
- The immune contexture of tumors significantly impacts patient outcomes.
- Immune cell composition within tumors can serve as a predictive biomarker.
- Understanding the tumor immune microenvironment is essential for developing effective immunotherapies.
Related Concept Videos
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
6.3K
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...
6.3K
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
2.6K
2.6K
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
5.7K
Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
5.7K
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
3.8K
3.8K
02:43Mouse Models of Cancer Study
4.7K
Mice have long served as models for studying human biology and pathology because of their phylogenetic and physiological similarity with humans. They are also easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory, and hence, many inbred strains are now available for research. Studies on mice have contributed immeasurably to our understanding of cancer biology.
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
4.7K
01:22Introduction to the Human Microbiota
199
Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity,...
199