Influence of tumour micro-environment heterogeneity on therapeutic response

MR Junttila, FJ De Sauvage - Nature, 2013 - nature.com
Nature, 2013nature.com
Tumour formation involves the co-evolution of neoplastic cells together with extracellular
matrix, tumour vasculature and immune cells. Successful outgrowth of tumours and eventual
metastasis is not determined solely by genetic alterations in tumour cells, but also by the
fitness advantage such mutations confer in a given environment. As fitness is context
dependent, evaluating tumours as complete organs, and not simply as masses of
transformed epithelial cells, becomes paramount. The dynamic tumour topography varies …
Abstract
Tumour formation involves the co-evolution of neoplastic cells together with extracellular matrix, tumour vasculature and immune cells. Successful outgrowth of tumours and eventual metastasis is not determined solely by genetic alterations in tumour cells, but also by the fitness advantage such mutations confer in a given environment. As fitness is context dependent, evaluating tumours as complete organs, and not simply as masses of transformed epithelial cells, becomes paramount. The dynamic tumour topography varies drastically even throughout the same lesion. Heterologous cell types within tumours can actively influence therapeutic response and shape resistance.
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