Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 31, 2025
09:04
Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells
Published on: March 7, 2025
644
Immune cellular components and signaling pathways in the tumor microenvironment
Sasitorn Yenyuwadee1, Konstantinos Aliazis2, Qi Wang2
1Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School; Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Seminars in Cancer Biology
|August 19, 2022
Summary
Cancer immunotherapies show promise but often yield transient responses. Understanding tumor microenvironment (TME) immune cells and signaling is key to improving anti-tumor immunity and overcoming cancer immune escape.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Cancer therapeutics have been revolutionized by antibody-based and cell-based immunotherapies.
- These therapies enhance chemo-radiotherapy and offer options for treatment-resistant cancers.
- However, only a subset of patients achieves long-lasting responses, indicating unmet needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent discoveries in anti-tumor immunity.
- To explore the immune cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME).
- To discuss signaling mechanisms driving cancer immune escape.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent advancements in cancer immunotherapy.
- Analysis of immune cell populations within the TME.
- Examination of molecular signaling pathways affecting anti-tumor immune responses.
Main Results:
- Immunotherapy efficacy is limited by incomplete understanding of anti-tumor immunity.
- The TME contains diverse immune cells that can be modulated for therapeutic benefit.
- Key signaling mechanisms within the TME often promote cancer immune escape.
Conclusions:
- Further research into TME cellular and molecular dynamics is crucial.
- Targeting specific immune cells and signaling pathways can enhance immunotherapy effectiveness.
- Overcoming cancer immune escape requires a deeper understanding of the tumor-immune interplay.
Related Concept Videos
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
6.8K
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...
6.8K
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
644
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.
644
01:19Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
6.4K
Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
6.4K
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
3.9K
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.9K
01:01Autocrine Signaling
48.4K
Autocrine signaling is one of the many signaling mechanisms that function inside multicellular organisms to carry out intercellular communication. In this type of signaling mechanism, the same cell that secretes an extracellular signaling molecule also expresses the receptors to bind and respond to that signaling molecule.
Autocrine Signaling in Macrophages
Under normal physiological conditions, autocrine signaling is essential for maintaining homeostasis. This process is well characterized in...
Autocrine Signaling in Macrophages
Under normal physiological conditions, autocrine signaling is essential for maintaining homeostasis. This process is well characterized in...
48.4K
01:20Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
7.1K
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved...
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved...
7.1K