Antitumor Therapy Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cancer Biology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Tumor progression heavily relies on the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME).
• The TME comprises cells, molecules, and vasculature that support tumor growth, invasion, and metabolism.
• Components of the TME are recognized as potential therapeutic targets for anticancer strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review pharmacological agents targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME).
• To summarize agents that directly or indirectly affect cellular or molecular components within the TME.
• To discuss current difficulties and challenges in TME-targeted anticancer therapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of pharmacological agents.
• Analysis of agents targeting cellular and molecular components of the TME.
• Identification and discussion of challenges in TME-targeted therapies.

Main Results:

• Numerous pharmacological agents have been developed to target the TME.
• These agents aim to disrupt tumor growth, invasion, and metabolism by acting on TME components.
• The review consolidates information on existing TME-targeting drugs.

Conclusions:

• Targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME) offers promising avenues for cancer treatment.
• Despite advancements, significant challenges remain in developing effective TME-targeted therapies.
• Further research is needed to overcome these obstacles and improve patient outcomes.