Cancer and cancer-associated cells

Cancer and cancer-associated cells represent the complex cellular ecosystem of a tumor, comprising malignant cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME). Malignant cells are characterized by genetic mutations that lead to uncontrolled proliferation, resistance to cell death, and the ability to metastasize to distant organs (Hanahan & Weinberg, Cell, 2011). Cancer-associated cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells, and various immune cells (e.g., regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells), are often recruited and functionally altered by the tumor to support its growth and provide a sanctuary from immune surveillance (Nature Reviews Cancer, 2020). Therapeutic strategies targeting this collective entity are diverse, ranging from traditional cytotoxic chemotherapies to targeted therapies and immunotherapies that disrupt specific signaling pathways or reactivate the host immune response (National Cancer Institute, 2023). Because this target encompasses a wide variety of cell types and molecular pathways, it is not considered a single therapeutic target but rather a complex disease state. Effective treatment often requires combination therapies to address the inherent heterogeneity and the evolving nature of the tumor ecosystem (PubMed, 2022).

Other names

Tumor microenvironmentMalignant cellsTumor-associated cellsNeoplastic cellsCancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs)

Drugs targeting this cellular population operate through diverse mechanisms, including the induction of DNA damage and apoptosis (chemotherapy), inhibition of specific oncogenic drivers like tyrosine kinases (targeted therapy), and the blockade of inhibitory immune checkpoints such as PD-1/PD-L1 to restore anti-tumor immunity (NIH, 2023).