The theory of tumor ecosystem
Xueman Chen1,2, Erwei Song1,2
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, P. R. China.
Cancer Communications (London, England)
|June 1, 2022
Summary
Cancer cells form a self-sustaining tumor ecosystem by interacting with the host environment. Targeting this ecosystem offers a new era for cancer therapy by exploiting systemic vulnerabilities.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Systems Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Cancer cells interact with local and distant host environments, forming a complex tumor ecosystem.
- Systemic tumor-host interactions are increasingly recognized as crucial in cancer progression.
- Understanding the tumor ecosystem is vital for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the concept of the tumor ecosystem and its hierarchical organization.
- To comprehensively analyze tumor-host interactions across different scales.
- To highlight recent advances in visualizing, modeling, and subtyping tumor ecosystems.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on tumor ecosystem dynamics.
- Analysis of material and energy flow within the tumor-host system.
- Discussion of technological advancements for network visualization and modeling.
Main Results:
- The tumor ecosystem involves interactions within local microenvironments, distant organ niches, and systemic networks (immune, nervous, endocrine).
- Tumor ecological homeostasis is a key driving force for self-sustainability.
- Recent technologies enable better visualization, modeling, and subtyping of these complex networks.
Conclusions:
- A new era of cancer therapy targeting ecosystemic vulnerabilities is emerging.
- Ecologically rational strategies are proposed for more effective cancer treatments.
- Understanding the systemic tumor-host interplay is critical for future therapeutic development.
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