Tumor Microenvironment Facility

Tumor micro-environment

The tumor microenvironment (TME) represents the surrounding of tumor cells, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, immune cells, and their products, such as signaling molecules (eicosanoids, cytokines) and structural components (extracellular matrix). In cancer research, the modulation of the TME has gained a forefront position. Recent studies have demonstrated that diagnosis and therapy selection for cancer patients may benefit significantly from the discovery and validation of changes in TME, particularly those that are related to immune evasion. In fact, type, density and location of immune effector cells in various tumor types provide better prognostic values in comparison to conventional clinico-pathological criteria. To accurately chart TME, it is critical to simultaneously measure the presence and quantity of multiple proteins in the context of intact tissue architecture thereby ensuring correct identification and localization of immune effector and suppressor cells (or their subsets), fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and molecules representing their activation state.