(Ebook) Biomarkers of the Tumor Microenvironment by Lars A. Akslen (Editor), Randolph S. Watnick (Editor) ISBN 9780128217894, 0128217898

(Ebook) Biomarkers of the Tumor Microenvironment by Lars A. Akslen (Editor), Randolph S. Watnick (Editor) ISBN 9780128217894, 0128217898

We discovered that many different cell types exist within the tumormicroenvironment that possess both growth promoting and inhibitory roles in tumor progression.Among the most prominent cell types that affect tumor growth are immune cells. HaroldDvorak famously described tumors as “wounds that do not heal.” This seemingly simple statementhas profound implications not only on how tumors are studied and perceived, but also onthe manner in which they are treated. Advancements in immunotherapy have led to the developmentof therapeutic agents that re-engage the adaptive immune response and enable theimmune system to attack tumors. Immune checkpoint inhibitors that block PD-1, PD-L1, andCTLA-4 have been approved for multiple indications and have shown potent and durableresponses in a subset of patients. Therapeutic agents targeting CD47, a “do not eat me” signalthat represents an inflammatory checkpoint protein blocking macrophage phagocytosis, are inclinical trials.It is now recognized that evasion of immune and inflammatory cells is not mediated solelyby the expression of checkpoint inhibitors on the surface of tumor cells. Myeloid derived cells,including monocytes and macrophages, are potent suppressors of the immune and inflammatoryresponse, as are cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Such cells might also repress theexpression of thrombospondin-1, a potent anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatoryprotein. Recent findings have highlighted that angiogenesis and immune evasionare co-regulated, further underscoring the complexity and significance of these interactionsbetween tumor cells and the microenvironment.