How Does the Tumor Immune Microenvironment Influence Cancer Progression?
The TIME can influence cancer progression through both favorable and unfavorable means. In a pro-tumoral environment, immune cells are manipulated by cancer cells to support tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Conversely, in an anti-tumoral environment, immune cells actively attack and destroy cancer cells, thereby inhibiting tumor progression. The balance between these opposing forces determines the trajectory of cancer development.
