TY - JOUR
T1 - The tumor microenvironment
T2 - A critical determinant of neoplastic evolution
AU - van Kempen, Léon C.L.T.
AU - Ruiter, Dirk J.
AU - van Muijen, Goos N.P.
AU - Coussens, Lisa M.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgements. This work was supported by the Dutch Cancer Society (L. C. L. van Kempen) and The National Cancer Institute, American Association of Cancer Research, American Cancer Society, Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation and the University of California Cancer Research Coordinating Committee (L. M. Coussens).
PY - 2003/11
Y1 - 2003/11
N2 - Evolution of neoplastic cells has generally been regarded as a cumulative intrinsic process resulting in altered cell characteristics enabling enhanced growth properties, evasion of apoptotic signals, unlimited replicative potential and gain of properties enabling the ability to thrive in ectopic tissues and in some cases, ability to metastasize. Recently however, the role of the neoplastic microenvironment has become appreciated largely due to the realization that tumors are not merely masses of neoplastic cells, but instead, are complex tissues composed of both a non-cellular (matrix proteins) and a cellular 'diploid' component (tumor-associated fibroblasts, capillary-associated cells and inflammatory cells), in addition to the ever-evolving neoplastic cells. With these realizations, it has become evident that early and persistent inflammatory responses observed in or around many solid tumors, play important roles in establishing an environment suitable for neoplastic progression by providing diverse factors that alter tissue homeostasis. Using cutaneous melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma as tumor models, we review the current literature focussing on inflammatory and tumor-associated fibroblast responses as critical mediators of neoplastic progression for these malignancies.
AB - Evolution of neoplastic cells has generally been regarded as a cumulative intrinsic process resulting in altered cell characteristics enabling enhanced growth properties, evasion of apoptotic signals, unlimited replicative potential and gain of properties enabling the ability to thrive in ectopic tissues and in some cases, ability to metastasize. Recently however, the role of the neoplastic microenvironment has become appreciated largely due to the realization that tumors are not merely masses of neoplastic cells, but instead, are complex tissues composed of both a non-cellular (matrix proteins) and a cellular 'diploid' component (tumor-associated fibroblasts, capillary-associated cells and inflammatory cells), in addition to the ever-evolving neoplastic cells. With these realizations, it has become evident that early and persistent inflammatory responses observed in or around many solid tumors, play important roles in establishing an environment suitable for neoplastic progression by providing diverse factors that alter tissue homeostasis. Using cutaneous melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma as tumor models, we review the current literature focussing on inflammatory and tumor-associated fibroblast responses as critical mediators of neoplastic progression for these malignancies.
KW - Cutaneous melanoma
KW - Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
KW - Fibroblast
KW - Inflammation
KW - Tumor microenvironment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0348149012&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0348149012&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1078/0171-9335-00346
DO - 10.1078/0171-9335-00346
M3 - Article
C2 - 14703010
AN - SCOPUS:0348149012
SN - 0171-9335
VL - 82
SP - 539
EP - 548
JO - European Journal of Cell Biology
JF - European Journal of Cell Biology
IS - 11
ER -