Tumor-associated stromal cells as key contributors to the tumor microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment is a heterogeneous population of cells consisting of the tumor bulk plus supporting cells. It is becoming increasingly evident that these supporting cells are recruited by cancer cells from nearby endogenous host stroma and promote events such as tumor angiogenesis, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, as well as mediate mechanisms of therapeutic resistance. In addition, recruited stromal cells range in type and include vascular endothelial cells, pericytes, adipocytes, fibroblasts, and bone-marrow mesenchymal stromal cells. During normal wound healing and inflammatory processes, local stromal cells change their phenotype to become that of reactive stroma. Under certain…

• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: P50CA083639, 1R01NS069964, 1R01NS09964, NRSA T32CA079448, 1RC1CA146381
• NC
  National Cancer Institute

  Award: 2K99CA178177