A compelling body of evidence has demonstrated that gastric cancer has a very particular tumor microenvironment, a signature very suitable to promote tumor progression and metastasis. Recent investigations have provided new insights into the multiple molecular mechanisms, defined by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, supporting a very active cross talk between the components of the tumor microenvironment and thus defining the fate of tumor progression. In this review, we intend to highlight the role of very active contributors at gastric cancer TME, particularly cancer-associated fibroblasts, bone marrow-derived cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and tumor-infiltrating neutrophils, all of them surrounded by an overtime changing extracellular matrix. In addition, the very active cross talk between the components of the tumor microenvironment, defined by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, thus defining the fate of tumor progression, is also reviewed.
Keywords: Cancer-associated fibroblasts; Chronic inflammation; Exosomes; Extracellular matrix; Gastric cancer; Helicobacter pylori; MicroRNAs; Tumor microenvironment; Tumor-associated macrophages; Tumor-associated mast cells; Tumor-infiltrating neutrophils.