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Ex Vivo Treatment Response of Primary Tumors and/or Associated Metastases for Preclinical and Clinical Development of Therapeutics
08:29

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Published on: October 2, 2014

Tumour and microenvironment crosstalk in NSCLC progression and response to therapy

Zahraa Rahal1, Roy El Darzi2, Seyed Javad Moghaddam3,4

  • 1Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. zrahal@mdanderson.org.

Nature Reviews. Clinical Oncology
|May 16, 2025
PubMed

Insights

The tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly impacts non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression and treatment response. Understanding TME complexity is key to developing novel therapies and improving patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is rapidly advancing with targeted agents and immunotherapies.
  • However, suboptimal treatment responses necessitate novel therapeutic strategies.
  • The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in NSCLC progression, metastasis, and treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of the NSCLC TME.
  • To explore the components, archetypes, and interactions within the NSCLC TME.
  • To discuss the influence of patient factors and therapeutic strategies on the TME.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on the NSCLC TME.
  • Analysis of TME components, spatial niches, and archetypes.
  • Examination of TME interactions, including inflammation and immunosuppression.
  • Consideration of patient-related factors (ageing, sex, health disparities).
  • Discussion of therapeutic strategies in the context of the TME.

Main Results:

  • The NSCLC TME comprises complex neighborhoods formed by distinct spatial niches.
  • Inflammation and immunosuppression are key dynamics shaping the TME.
  • Patient factors like ageing, sex, and health disparities influence TME crosstalk.
  • Therapeutic strategies are intricately linked with and influenced by the TME.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the multifaceted NSCLC TME is crucial for improving current treatments and overcoming resistance.
  • The interconnectedness of TME components, patient factors, and therapies dictates treatment outcomes and tumor progression.
  • Targeting the TME offers promising avenues for developing next-generation NSCLC therapies.

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