How Has the Understanding of the Tumor Microenvironment Influenced Research?
The tumor microenvironment, which includes surrounding blood vessels, immune cells, fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix, plays a crucial role in cancer progression and metastasis. Researchers have discovered that interactions between cancer cells and their microenvironment can either promote or inhibit tumor growth. This understanding has led to the development of therapies that target these interactions. For instance, drugs that inhibit angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) can starve tumors of the nutrients they need to grow.
