ebook: Habitat for disease – disrupting the tumour micro-environment
No tumour prevails on its own. Rather, every tumour needs a community to thrive.
Indeed, surrounding any one solid tumour are blood vessels, lymphatics, and a diverse neighbourhood of cellular and non-cellular components that engage in dynamic and bi-directional interactions. As such, it is fitting to conceptualise the tumour micro-environment (TME) as a heterogeneous and evolving ecosystem. In this view, the emphasis is on understanding the interacting network within the TME, as the adapted dialogue between tumour cells and other members of the bordering habitat is immunosuppressive and cooperative toward disease progression and acquired drug resistance.