[Frontiers in Bioscience E4, 1871-1887, January 1, 2012]

Tumor-stroma interactions in tumorigenesis: lessons from stem cell biology

Franziska Briest1, Alexander Berndt2, Joachim Clement3, Kerstin Junker4, Ferdinand von Eggeling5, Susanne Grimm1, Karlheinz Friedrich1

1Institute of Biochemistry II, Jena University Hospital, Germany, 2Institute of Pathology, Jena University Hospital, Germany, 3Clinic for Internal Medicine II, 4Clinic of Urology, 5Institute of Human Genetics and Anthropology, Jena University Hospital, Germany

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Roles of the stroma in immune escape of tumor and stem cells
4. Specialized stromal cells within tumor microenvironment and stem cell niches regulate survival, proliferation and migration
5. Secondary tumor formation by cancer cells involves the acquisition of stem cell like adhesion protein patterns and an embryonal matrix composition
6. Tumor metastasis is dependent on mediators primarily controling stem cell circulation and homing
7. Premetastatic niches share functional properties with stem cell niches
8. Conclusions and outlook
9. References

1. ABSTRACT

Research in recent years has accumulated a wealth of novel insight into mechanisms by which tumor cells interact with activated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, inflammatory and immune cells and the extracellular matrix. Cancer and stromal cells co-evolve throughout tumorigenesis. As a result, the tumor stroma is now regarded as an essential contributor to tumor establishment, progression and dissemination. Moreover, the formation of suitable stroma niches has emerged as a prime determinant of metastasis. Notably, malignant tumors adopt numerous mechanisms that are also operative in embryonic and adult stem cell biology. Tumor sites show functional characteristics with striking similarities to stem cell niches. This review summarizes the current view of disease-relevant communication between tumor cells and the tumor stroma and relates it to interactions of stem cells and their respective niches. Progress in understanding the pivotal role of the microenvironment in both tumor and stem cell biology renders the tumor stroma an interesting potential future target for specific cancer therapies.