Abstract
Cancers develop within complex tissue environments consisting of diverse innate and adaptive immune cells, along with stromal cells, vascular networks, and many other cellular and noncellular components. The high heterogeneity within the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains a key obstacle in understanding and treating cancer. Understanding the dynamic functional interplay within this intricate ecosystem will provide important insights into the design of effective combinatorial strategies against cancer. Here, we present recent technical advances to explore the complexity of the TME. Then, we discuss how innate immune sensing machinery, genetic alterations of oncogenic signaling, cellular metabolism, and epigenetic factors are involved in modulating the TME. Finally, we summarize the potential strategies to boost antitumor immunity by therapeutically exploiting the TME.
Keywords:
epigenetic; immune checkpoint blockade; metabolism; single cell profiling; tumor microenvironment.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Biomarkers, Tumor / antagonists & inhibitors
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Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
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Biomarkers, Tumor / immunology
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Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / drug effects
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Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / immunology*
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Combined Modality Therapy / methods
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Epigenesis, Genetic / immunology
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Ferroptosis / drug effects
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Ferroptosis / genetics
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Ferroptosis / immunology
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / immunology
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Humans
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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Immunity, Innate / drug effects
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Immunity, Innate / genetics
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Immunotherapy / methods*
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Metabolomics / methods
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Neoplasms / diagnosis
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Neoplasms / genetics
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Neoplasms / immunology
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Neoplasms / therapy*
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Oncolytic Virotherapy / methods*
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Oncolytic Viruses / immunology
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RNA-Seq
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Signal Transduction / genetics
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Signal Transduction / immunology
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Single-Cell Analysis
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Tumor Escape / drug effects
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Tumor Escape / genetics
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Tumor Microenvironment / genetics
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Tumor Microenvironment / immunology*
Substances
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Biomarkers, Tumor
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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors