Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2025

Implantation and Monitoring by PET/CT of an Orthotopic Model of Human Pleural Mesothelioma in Athymic Mice
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Implantation and Monitoring by PET/CT of an Orthotopic Model of Human Pleural Mesothelioma in Athymic Mice

Published on: December 21, 2019

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Chronic Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Plasticity: Three Players Driving the Pro-Tumorigenic

Irene Fiorilla1,2, Simona Martinotti1,2, Alberto Maria Todesco1,2

  • 1Department of Science and Technological Innovation (DISIT), University of Eastern Piedmont, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.

Cells
|August 26, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer linked to asbestos. This review explores how chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic changes in the tumor microenvironment drive MPM progression and offer new therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare, aggressive cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure.
  • Asbestos induces chronic inflammation, oxidative stress (ROS generation), and aberrant signaling, leading to mesothelial cell transformation.
  • The tumor microenvironment, including hypoxia and immune cell interactions, significantly influences MPM aggressiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the complex tumor-host interactions within the MPM microenvironment.
  • To elucidate the roles of soluble factors, metabolic crosstalk, and oxidative stress in MPM development and progression.
  • To identify potential novel therapeutic targets within the MPM tumor microenvironment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on MPM pathogenesis and tumor microenvironment.
  • Analysis of mechanisms including chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic reprogramming.
  • Examination of immune cell roles and signaling pathways in MPM.

Main Results:

  • Asbestos exposure triggers "frustrated" macrophages, releasing pro-inflammatory mediators and ROS, fueling chronic inflammation.
  • Hypoxia in the MPM microenvironment alters tumor and immune cell metabolism and plasticity, enhancing aggressiveness.
  • Complex interactions involving soluble factors, metabolic crosstalk, and oxidative stress are key drivers of MPM.

Conclusions:

  • The MPM tumor microenvironment presents a complex interplay of inflammatory, oxidative, and metabolic factors.
  • Understanding these intricate host-tumor interactions is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies.
  • Targeting specific components of the tumor microenvironment, such as oxidative stress and metabolic pathways, holds promise for novel MPM treatments.
Keywords:
DAMPinflammationmacrophagesmesotheliomametabolic adaptationoxidative stressphenotype plasticitytumor microenvironment

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