The peritumor microenvironment: physics and immunity

Sue Zhang; Kathryn Regan; Julian Najera; Mark W Grinstaff; Meenal Datta; Hadi T Nia

doi:10.1016/j.trecan.2023.04.004

The peritumor microenvironment: physics and immunity

Trends Cancer. 2023 Aug;9(8):609-623. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.04.004. Epub 2023 May 6.

Authors

Sue Zhang¹, Kathryn Regan¹, Julian Najera², Mark W Grinstaff³, Meenal Datta⁴, Hadi T Nia⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
² Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
³ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
⁴ Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA. Electronic address: mdatta@nd.edu.
⁵ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: htnia@bu.edu.

PMID: 37156677
PMCID: PMC10523902 (available on 2024-08-01)
DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.04.004

Abstract

Cancer initiation and progression drastically alter the microenvironment at the interface between healthy and malignant tissue. This site, termed the peritumor, bears unique physical and immune attributes that together further promote tumor progression through interconnected mechanical signaling and immune activity. In this review, we describe the distinct physical features of the peritumoral microenvironment and link their relationship to immune responses. The peritumor is a region rich in biomarkers and therapeutic targets and thus is a key focus for future cancer research as well as clinical outlooks, particularly to understand and overcome novel mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance.

Keywords: immunotherapy; peritumor; physical immunity; physical oncology; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Immunotherapy
Mechanotransduction, Cellular
Neoplasms* / pathology
Physics
Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding