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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Enrichment and Characterization of the Tumor Immune and Non-immune Microenvironments in Established Subcutaneous Murine Tumors
Published on: June 7, 2018
Functionally Characterizing the Renal Cell Carcinoma Tumor-Immune Microenvironment via Patient-Derived Ex Vivo Models
Neja Sirc1,2,3, Johannes Smolander1,2,3,4, Anita N Kumari1,2
1Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland.
This study developed a patient-derived ex vivo system to analyze immune cells in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The system revealed challenges in overcoming the suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) with PD-1 blockade and VEGFR inhibition therapies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) are key targets for cancer therapies.
- Understanding immune cell responses to immunotherapy and targeted therapy is crucial but incomplete.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and utilize a patient-derived ex vivo system for profiling immune characteristics in the TME.
- To model single-cell level T cell activation in response to PD-1 blockade and VEGFR inhibition in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Main Methods:
- Development of a patient-derived ex vivo system.
- Single-cell level profiling of immune cell phenotypes and activation.
- Modeling T cell responses to PD-1 blockade and VEGFR inhibition in RCC patients.
Main Results:
- The RCC TME exhibits significant T cell infiltration with diverse phenotypes (cytotoxic, memory, exhausted, regulatory).
- T cells can be activated via CD3/CD28/CD2 stimulation, upregulating key immune signaling pathways.
- PD-1 blockade showed modest T cell activation, while VEGFR inhibition suppressed immune markers and activation pathways.
Conclusions:
- The RCC TME possesses inherent suppressive features that limit therapeutic efficacy.
- Current PD-1 blockade and VEGFR inhibition strategies face challenges in fully overcoming TME-mediated suppression.
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