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Updated: Jan 26, 2026
Molecular Profiling of the Invasive Tumor Microenvironment in a 3-Dimensional Model of Colorectal Cancer Cells and Ex vivo Fibroblasts
Published on: April 29, 2014
The tumor microenvironment in renal cell cancer
1Division of Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
In addition to the provision of nutrients and growth factors that facilitate tumor cell proliferation and metastasis, the tumor microenvironment (MEV) restricts immune surveillance of tumor-associated antigens and limits the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor vaccines, and other immune therapies. This review will focus on the immunosuppressive mechanisms operative within the tumor MVE of renal cell carcinoma.
Recent Findings:
Several of the immunosuppressive mechanisms within the tumor MEV have been identified and are potentially druggable. Clinical trials with agents that target several of these inhibitory pathways are currently underway.
Summary:
Although renal cell carcinoma is one of several tumor types responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors, the effectiveness of these agents is likely to be limited by the various tumor-infiltrating bone marrow-derived myeloid cells that comprise the MEV. Several strategies to combat the recruitment of these cells into tumor tissue or to neutralize their immunosuppressive function have shown encouraging results in animal tumor models and clinical trials.
Insights
The tumor microenvironment (MEV) in renal cell carcinoma hinders immune responses and limits cancer therapies. Targeting immunosuppressive cells within the MEV shows promise for improving treatment efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- The tumor microenvironment (MEV) supports tumor growth and metastasis.
- The MEV also suppresses immune surveillance and reduces the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- This review focuses on the immunosuppressive mechanisms within the MEV of renal cell carcinoma.
- To highlight potentially druggable targets within the tumor microenvironment.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on tumor microenvironment and renal cell carcinoma immunology.
- Analysis of immunosuppressive mechanisms and their therapeutic implications.
Main Results:
- Several immunosuppressive mechanisms in the MEV have been identified and are targets for new therapies.
- Bone marrow-derived myeloid cells in the MEV limit the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in renal cell carcinoma.
- Strategies to target these myeloid cells show encouraging results in preclinical and clinical studies.
Conclusions:
- The immunosuppressive MEV of renal cell carcinoma presents significant challenges for effective cancer immunotherapy.
- Targeting MEV components, particularly myeloid cells, is a promising strategy to enhance treatment outcomes.
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