肿瘤的发生并不只是由肿瘤细胞本身恶化引起的,肿瘤基质也发挥了非常重要的作用,肿瘤发生是肿瘤细胞和围绕它的肿瘤基质相互作用的产物。肿瘤细胞可以通过各种途径激活与其相邻的间质,促进成纤维细胞的增生、细胞外基质的沉积、免疫细胞浸润和血管生成,这种现象被称为结缔组织生成。结缔组织生成形成了一个支持肿瘤发展的微环境,通过多种途径促进了肿瘤的发生、发展和转移。针对结缔组织生成进行肿瘤治疗可以为肿瘤的临床治疗提供新的思路。
Tumor stroma plays crucial roles in the development and metastasis of malignant tumors. The cancer progression and metastasis are the result of reciprocal interaction between cancer cells and the surrounding stromal components. The tumor stroma, featured with accumulation of cancer associated fibroblasts, infiltration of inflammatory cells, neo-angiogenesis and remodeling of extracellular matrix, a phenomenon called desmoplasia, actively promotes cancer progression and metastasis. Strategies targeting the tumor stroma may provide novel and powerful approaches in cancer treatment.