The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in enhancing the growth of malignant tumors and thus contributing to "aggressive phenotypes," supporting sustained tumor growth and metastasis. The precise interplay between the numerous components of the TME that contribute to the emergence of these aggressive phenotypes is yet to be elucidated and currently under intense investigation. The purpose of this article is to identify specific role(s) for lipoproteins as part of these processes that facilitate (or oppose) malignant growth as they interact with specific components of the TME during tumor development and treatment. Because of the scarcity of literature reports regarding the interaction of lipoproteins with the components of the tumor microenvironment, we were compelled to explore topics that were only tangentially related to this topic, to ensure that we have not missed any important concepts.
Keywords: Adipose cells; Endothelial cells; Exosomes; Fibroblasts; High-density lipoproteins; Immune surveillance; Lipoproteins; Macrophage polarization; Macrophages; Metastasis; Microvasculature; Neutrophils; Pericytes; Tumor aggressiveness; Tumor environment.