The bed and the bugs: Interactions between the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells

Zafira Castaño; Christine M. Fillmore; Carla F. Kim; Sandra S. McAllister

doi:10.1016/j.semcancer.2012.04.006

The bed and the bugs: Interactions between the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells

Zafira Castaño, Christine M. Fillmore, Carla F. Kim, Sandra S. McAllister

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tumors have been increasingly recognized as organs with a complexity that approaches, and may even exceed, that of healthy tissues. When viewed from this perspective, the biology of a tumor can be understood only by studying tumor cell heterogeneity and the microenvironment that is constructed during the course of tumorigenesis and malignant progression. Recent work has revealed the existence of cancer stem cells, the "bugs", with the capacity for self-renewal and tumor propagation. In addition, it is now recognized that the tumor microenvironment, the "bed", plays a critical role in supporting cancer stem cells and also may promote neoplasia and malignant progression. The interdependence of the cell-intrinsic features of cancer, including the cancer stem cell "bugs" and the tumor microenvironment "bed", is only beginning to be understood. In this review, we highlight the rapidly evolving concepts about the interactions between tumor stem cells and their microenvironment, the insights gained from studying their normal tissue counterparts, and the questions and controversies surrounding this area of research, with an emphasis on breast and lung cancer. Finally, we address evidence supporting the notion that eliminating the bed as well as the bugs should lead to more effective and personalized cancer treatments that improve patient outcome.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	462-470
Number of pages	9
Journal	Seminars in Cancer Biology
Volume	22
Issue number	5-6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcancer.2012.04.006
State	Published - Oct 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We acknowledge the great strides made by a large number of investigators in these areas of research and regret that we could not include all of them and their work in this review. This work was supported by funds from the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (CMF) ; RO1 HL090136 , U01 HL100402 , American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant # RSG-08-082-01-MGO , the V Foundation for Cancer Research , a Basil O’Conner March of Dimes Starter Award, and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (CFK) ; the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Breast Cancer SPORE Developmental Project Award, and DFHCC Nodal Award (SSM). We thank Jamie Brien, Hematology Division, Brigham and Womeńs Hospital, for help in preparation of the manuscript.

Keywords

Breast cancer
Cancer stem cells
Lung cancer
Stem cells
Tumor heterogeneity
Tumor microenvironment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cancer Research

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.semcancer.2012.04.006

Cite this

@article{b8f60846edf4474cb3932a578b50194d,

title = "The bed and the bugs: Interactions between the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells",

abstract = "Tumors have been increasingly recognized as organs with a complexity that approaches, and may even exceed, that of healthy tissues. When viewed from this perspective, the biology of a tumor can be understood only by studying tumor cell heterogeneity and the microenvironment that is constructed during the course of tumorigenesis and malignant progression. Recent work has revealed the existence of cancer stem cells, the {"}bugs{"}, with the capacity for self-renewal and tumor propagation. In addition, it is now recognized that the tumor microenvironment, the {"}bed{"}, plays a critical role in supporting cancer stem cells and also may promote neoplasia and malignant progression. The interdependence of the cell-intrinsic features of cancer, including the cancer stem cell {"}bugs{"} and the tumor microenvironment {"}bed{"}, is only beginning to be understood. In this review, we highlight the rapidly evolving concepts about the interactions between tumor stem cells and their microenvironment, the insights gained from studying their normal tissue counterparts, and the questions and controversies surrounding this area of research, with an emphasis on breast and lung cancer. Finally, we address evidence supporting the notion that eliminating the bed as well as the bugs should lead to more effective and personalized cancer treatments that improve patient outcome.",

keywords = "Breast cancer, Cancer stem cells, Lung cancer, Stem cells, Tumor heterogeneity, Tumor microenvironment",

author = "Zafira Casta{\~n}o and Fillmore, {Christine M.} and Kim, {Carla F.} and McAllister, {Sandra S.}",

note = "Funding Information: We acknowledge the great strides made by a large number of investigators in these areas of research and regret that we could not include all of them and their work in this review. This work was supported by funds from the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (CMF) ; RO1 HL090136 , U01 HL100402 , American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant # RSG-08-082-01-MGO , the V Foundation for Cancer Research , a Basil O{\textquoteright}Conner March of Dimes Starter Award, and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (CFK) ; the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Breast Cancer SPORE Developmental Project Award, and DFHCC Nodal Award (SSM). We thank Jamie Brien, Hematology Division, Brigham and Wome{\'n}s Hospital, for help in preparation of the manuscript.",

year = "2012",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.semcancer.2012.04.006",

language = "English",

volume = "22",

pages = "462--470",

number = "5-6",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The bed and the bugs

T2 - Interactions between the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells

AU - Castaño, Zafira

AU - Fillmore, Christine M.

AU - Kim, Carla F.

AU - McAllister, Sandra S.

N1 - Funding Information: We acknowledge the great strides made by a large number of investigators in these areas of research and regret that we could not include all of them and their work in this review. This work was supported by funds from the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (CMF) ; RO1 HL090136 , U01 HL100402 , American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant # RSG-08-082-01-MGO , the V Foundation for Cancer Research , a Basil O’Conner March of Dimes Starter Award, and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (CFK) ; the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Breast Cancer SPORE Developmental Project Award, and DFHCC Nodal Award (SSM). We thank Jamie Brien, Hematology Division, Brigham and Womeńs Hospital, for help in preparation of the manuscript.

PY - 2012/10

Y1 - 2012/10

N2 - Tumors have been increasingly recognized as organs with a complexity that approaches, and may even exceed, that of healthy tissues. When viewed from this perspective, the biology of a tumor can be understood only by studying tumor cell heterogeneity and the microenvironment that is constructed during the course of tumorigenesis and malignant progression. Recent work has revealed the existence of cancer stem cells, the "bugs", with the capacity for self-renewal and tumor propagation. In addition, it is now recognized that the tumor microenvironment, the "bed", plays a critical role in supporting cancer stem cells and also may promote neoplasia and malignant progression. The interdependence of the cell-intrinsic features of cancer, including the cancer stem cell "bugs" and the tumor microenvironment "bed", is only beginning to be understood. In this review, we highlight the rapidly evolving concepts about the interactions between tumor stem cells and their microenvironment, the insights gained from studying their normal tissue counterparts, and the questions and controversies surrounding this area of research, with an emphasis on breast and lung cancer. Finally, we address evidence supporting the notion that eliminating the bed as well as the bugs should lead to more effective and personalized cancer treatments that improve patient outcome.

AB - Tumors have been increasingly recognized as organs with a complexity that approaches, and may even exceed, that of healthy tissues. When viewed from this perspective, the biology of a tumor can be understood only by studying tumor cell heterogeneity and the microenvironment that is constructed during the course of tumorigenesis and malignant progression. Recent work has revealed the existence of cancer stem cells, the "bugs", with the capacity for self-renewal and tumor propagation. In addition, it is now recognized that the tumor microenvironment, the "bed", plays a critical role in supporting cancer stem cells and also may promote neoplasia and malignant progression. The interdependence of the cell-intrinsic features of cancer, including the cancer stem cell "bugs" and the tumor microenvironment "bed", is only beginning to be understood. In this review, we highlight the rapidly evolving concepts about the interactions between tumor stem cells and their microenvironment, the insights gained from studying their normal tissue counterparts, and the questions and controversies surrounding this area of research, with an emphasis on breast and lung cancer. Finally, we address evidence supporting the notion that eliminating the bed as well as the bugs should lead to more effective and personalized cancer treatments that improve patient outcome.

KW - Breast cancer

KW - Cancer stem cells

KW - Lung cancer

KW - Stem cells

KW - Tumor heterogeneity

KW - Tumor microenvironment

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866337487&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84866337487&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.semcancer.2012.04.006

DO - 10.1016/j.semcancer.2012.04.006

M3 - Review article

C2 - 22548722

AN - SCOPUS:84866337487

SN - 1044-579X

VL - 22

SP - 462

EP - 470

JO - Seminars in Cancer Biology

JF - Seminars in Cancer Biology

IS - 5-6

ER -

The bed and the bugs: Interactions between the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this