Forces at play: exploring factors affecting the cancer metastasis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cancer Biology
• Immunology

Background:

• Metastatic disease is a primary cause of cancer-related mortality.
• The tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly influences cancer progression and metastasis.
• Dissemination of tumor cells to distant sites leads to treatment failure and organ damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review pivotal tumor microenvironment (TME) components.
• To highlight how TME cell types and factors influence cancer metastasis.
• To provide background for developing targeted therapies against metastatic tumors.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of TME components and their roles in metastasis.
• Analysis of cellular players within the TME, including MSCs, LECs, CAFs, MDSCs, T cells, and TAMs.
• Examination of non-cellular factors like ECM, gut microbiota, circadian rhythm, and hypoxia.

Main Results:

• Various cell types (MSCs, LECs, CAFs, MDSCs, T cells, TAMs) are critical in cancer metastasis.
• Extracellular matrix, gut microbiota, circadian rhythm, and hypoxia also shape the TME and metastatic cascade.
• Understanding these TME components is essential for targeting metastatic tumors.

Conclusions:

• Targeting TME components offers a promising strategy for novel cancer therapies.
• Identifying molecular patterns of altered TME components can guide optimized treatment design.
• This review aids researchers in developing therapies to restrict the metastatic cascade and treat solid tumors.