Exploring the tumor microenvironment in solid cancer: From biology to therapy

Cancer is a major global health concern marked by uncontrolled cellular proliferation and genetic modifications leading to malignancy. The disease's complexity encompasses various forms of cancer, increased rates of diagnosis and prognosis and numerous treatment modalities, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, each confronting problems such as medication resistance and side effects. Solid tumors, comprising approximately 85 % of malignancies, provide significant treatment challenges due to their uneven vascular supply and interstitial pressure, resulting in inadequate medication distribution and therapeutic failure. The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises cancer cells and diverse supportive cells such as immune cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts, which interact to facilitate tumor growth and progression. T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and macrophages are only a few types of immune cells that can aid or impede cancer progression, which makes treatment more complicated. In this chapter we will explore the TME in solid cancers, focusing on its role in cancer biology and therapeutics strategies. In the future, advancing therapies that more precisely target TME components will minimize treatment resistance and improve patient outcomes.