HGF/SF-Met signaling in tumor progression

Tumor progression is a multi-step process that requires a sequential selection of specific malignant phenotypes. Met activation may induce different phenotypes depending on tumor stage: inducing proliferation and angiogenesis in pri- mary tumors, stimulating motility to form micrometastases, and regaining the proliferation phenotype to form overt metastases. To study how HGF/SF-induced proliferative phenotypes switch to the invasive phenotype is important for understanding the mechanism of tumor progression and will provide an attractive target for cancer intervention and therapy.

Super enhancer inhibitors suppress MYC driven transcriptional amplification and tumor progression in osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone sarcoma that mostly occurs in young adults. The causes of osteosarcoma are heterogeneous and still not fully understood. Identification of novel, important oncogenic factors in osteosarcoma and development of better, effective therapeutic approaches are in urgent need for better treatment of osteosarcoma patients. In this study, we uncovered that the oncogene MYC is significantly upregulated in metastastic osteosarcoma samples. In addition, high MYC expression is associated with poor survival of osteosarcoma patients. Analysis of MYC targets in osteosarcoma revealed that most of the osteosarcoma super enhancer genes are bound by MYC. Treatment of osteosarcoma cells with super enhancer inhibitors THZ1 and JQ1 effectively suppresses the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. Mechanistically,THZ1 treatment suppresses a large group of super enhancer containing MYC target genes including CDK6 and TGFB2. These findings revealed that the MYC-driven super enhancer signaling is crucial for the osteosarcoma tumorigenesis and targeting the MYC/super enhancer axis represents as a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment of osteosarcoma patients.

Rate of local tumor progression following radiofrequency ablation of pathologically early hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM To evaluate whether pathologically early hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) exhibited local tumor progression after radiofrequency ablation(RFA) less often than typical HCC.METHODS Fifty pathologically early HCCs [tumor diameter(mm): mean, 15.8; range, 10-23; follow-up days after RFA: median, 1213; range, 216-2137] and 187 typical HCCs [tumor diameter(mm): mean, 15.6; range, 6-30; follow-up days after RFA: median, 1116; range, 190-2328] were enrolled in this retrospective study. The presence of stromal invasion(namely, tumor cell invasion into the intratumoral portal tracts) was considered to be the most important pathologic finding for the diagnosis of early HCCs. Typical HCC was defined as the presence of a hyper-vascular lesion accompanied by delayed washout using contrastenhanced computed tomography or contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Follow-up examinations were performed at 3-mo intervals to monitor for signs of local tumor progression. The local tumor progression rates of pathologically early HCCs and typical HCCs were then determined using the Kaplan-Meier method.RESULTS During the follow-up period for the 50 pathologically early HCCs, 49(98%) of the nodules did not exhibit local tumor progression. However, 1 nodule(2%) was associated with a local tumor progression found 636 d after RFA. For the 187 typical HCCs, 46(24.6%) of the nodules exhibited local recurrence after RFA. The follow-up period until the local tumor progression of typical HCC was a median of 605 d, ranging from 181 to 1741 d. Among the cases with typical HCCs, local tumor progression had occurred in 7.0%(7/187), 16.0%(30/187), 21.9%(41/187) and 24.6%(46/187) of the cases at 1, 2, 3 and 4 years, respectively. Pathologically early HCC was statistically associated with a lower rate of local tumor progression, compared with typical HCC, when evaluated using a log-rank test(P = 0.002). CONCLUSION The rate of local tumor progression for pathologically early HCCs after RFA was significantly lower than that for typical HCCs.

N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 inhibition of tumor progression in Caco2 cells

BACKGROUND Invasion and migration are the irreversible stages of colorectal cancer(CRC).The key is to find a sensitive,reliable molecular marker that can predict the migration of CRC at an early stage.N-myc downstream regulated gene 1(NDRG1)is a multifunctional gene that has been tentatively reported to have a strong relationship with tumor invasion and migration,however the current molecular role of NDRG1 in CRC remains unknown.AIM To explore the role of NDRG1 in the development of CRC.METHODS NDRG1 stably over-expressed Caco2 cell line was established by lentiviral infection and NDRG1 knock-out Caco2 cell line was established by CRISPR/Cas9.Furthermore,the mRNA and protein levels of NDRG1 in Caco2 cells after NDRG1 over-expression and knockout were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot.The cell proliferation rate was measured by the cell counting kit-8 method;cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry;invasion and migration ability were detected by the 24-transwell method.RESULTS NDRG1 over-expression inhibited Caco2 proliferation and the cell cycle could be arrested at the G1/S phase when NDRG1 was over-expressed,while the number of cells in the G2 phase was significantly increased when NDRG1 was knocked out.This suggests that NDRG1 inhibited the proliferation of Caco2 cells by arresting the cell cycle in the G1/S phase.Our data also demonstrated that NDRG1 promotes early cell apoptosis.Invasion and migration of cells were extensively inhibited when NDRG1 was over-expressed.CONCLUSION NDRG1 inhibits tumor progression in Caco2 cells which may represent a potential novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of CRC.

Thymoquinone Suppresses Cellular Proliferation, Inhibits VEGF Production and Obstructs Tumor Progression and Invasion in the Rat Model of DMH-Induced Colon Carcinogenesis

A myriad of medicinal effects has been attributed to Thymoquinone (TQ), the major biological-active component of Nigella sativa. TQ has been shown to exhibit potent anti-tumor activities. The present work was undertaken to further explore TQ’s chemopreventive efficacy against 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon carcinogenesis in the rat model through a two-phase study (initiation and post-initiation) and to evaluate its potential impact on tumor progression and invasion in vivo. TQ treatment in the initiation phase significantly reduced tumor incidence, multiplicity and mean tumor volume. However, although mean tumor volume and multiplicity were decreased upon TQ treatment in the post-initiation phase, TQ did not reduce incidence significantly. Cellular proliferation, as assessed by expression of colonic PCNA, was shown to be inhibited in consequence to TQ treatment in both phases, with a more pronounced reduction in the initiation phase. In addition, our results demonstrated an appreciable negative impact of TQ on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production in tumor-bearing rats. Furthermore, we provided evidence that TQ-treatment, in both phases, tended to considerably suppress tumor progression and invasion. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that TQ, at an orally daily dose of 10 mg/kg, has a chemopreventive effect in the initiation phase, and has the potential to attenuate tumor burden, suppress progression of pre-neoplastic lesions and to inhibit tumor growth in the post-initiation phase of DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis, We surmise that such effects of TQ may be due to suppression of cellular proliferation and inhibition of VEGF production. The results could provide an effective chemopreventive approach in the primary prevention of colon cancer in humans in the next future, and illuminate a promising horizon to combat progression of benign colonic pre-neoplastic lesions into malignant metastatic tumors and to manage colon cancer.

Ferroptosis:a critical mechanism of N^(6)-methyladenosine modification involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent regulatory cell necrosis induced by iron overload and lipid peroxidation.It occurs when multiple redoxactive enzymes are ectopically expressed or show abnormal function.Hence,the precise regulation of ferroptosis-related molecules is mediated across multiple levels,including transcriptional,posttranscriptional,translational,and epigenetic levels.N^(6)-methyladenosine(m^(6)A)is a highly evolutionarily conserved epigenetic modification in mammals.The m^(6)A modification is commonly linked to tumor proliferation,progression,and therapy resistance because it is involved in RNA metabolic processes.Intriguingly,accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulated ferroptosis caused by the m^(6)A modification drives tumor development.In this review,we summarized the roles of m^(6)A regulators in ferroptosis-mediated malignant tumor progression and outlined the m^(6)A regulatory mechanism involved in ferroptosis pathways.We also analyzed the potential value and application strategies of targeting m^(6)A/ferroptosis pathway in the clinical diagnosis and therapy of tumors.

The Dual Effects of Interleukin-18 in Tumor Progression

Interleukin-18 （IL-18） was discovered as an interferon-y-inducing factor and had a critical role in inflammatory and immune respouse. It stimulates natural killer （NK） and T cells and enhances Thl immune response. These activated immune cells eliminate cancer cells and virus-infected cells effectively. However, IL-18 has also been found to promote tumor progression. Higher expression or secretion level of IL-18 is detected in various cancer cells in comparison with normal control, and IL-18 is able to induce angiogenesis, migration/metastasis, proliferation and immune escape. These dual effects and the mechanism of IL-18 need to be investigated further as it relates to cancer.

RNA editingof SLC22A3 causes early tumor progression in familial esophageal cancer patients

Subject Code:H16With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,a collaborative study by the Research groups led by Prof.Fu Li(付利)from the Cancer Research Center,Shenzhen University School of Medicine and Prof.Guan Xinyuan(关新元)from the University of Hong Kong reported that an

The role and research progress of MDSC in immune aging-related diseases

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs)are a group of heterogeneous immature cells with a strong immunosuppressive function in myeloid cells,which are impeded in the differentiation of myeloid cells under the pathological conditions of hypoxia,inflammation,infection,and cancer.As individuals age,there is a significant increase in myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs),which subsequently enhance the immunosuppressive functions of Tregs(regulatory T cells)and Bregs(regulatory B cells).Therefore,MDSC may be related to immune system remodeling,thereby preventing excessive lesions caused by aging.This indicates that MDSC could serve as a potent inducer of immune senescence.Immune senescence,characterized by immune dysfunction with aging,is closely linked to the onset of diseases like infections,pulmonary fibrosis,and tumors.To achieve the purpose of anti-aging by intervening in immune aging and slow down the occurrence and development of related diseases.Therefore,understanding the biological characteristics of MDSC and its role in immune aging is crucial for immunotherapy targeting MDSC.This article reviews the different roles of MDSC in immune aging and its relationship with pulmonary fibrosis,tumor and other related diseases to provide theoretical basis for more comprehensive targeted MDSC immunotherapy.

Research Progress on the Role of miRNA-448 in Tumor

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a class of endogenous non-coding and regulatory single stranded small RNA molecules, about 18 - 24 nucleotides in length. More than 800 miRNA coding genes have been identified in the human genome, and about 113 target genes are predicted to be regulated, which distinguishes it from most oligonucleotides and functional RNA degraded fragments. It is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and other cell activities. At the same time, it is abnormal in liver cancer, breast cancer, glioma and other tumors, becoming a new biomarker, and participating in cancer differentiation, invasion and metastasis through the interaction with multiple target genes, such as SATB1, NF-KB and 5-HT2B. Mir-448 is abnormally expressed in a variety of tumor cells, such as liver cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. mirNA-448 may play a very important role in tumors. In order to deepen the understanding of the role of mirNA-448 in tumors, this paper reviews the research progress of the role of mirNA-448 in tumors.

Role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer initiation and progression

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide.Due to its intricate initiation and progression mechanisms,early detection and effective treatment of gastric cancer are difficult to achieve.The epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)is characterized as a fundamental process that is critical for embryonic development,wound healing and fibrotic disease.Recent evidence has established that aberrant EMT activation in the human stomach is closely associated with gastric carcinogenesis and tumor progression.EMT activation endows gastric epithelial cells with increased characteristics of mesenchymal cells and reduces their epithelial features.Moreover,mesenchymal cells tend to dedifferentiate and acquire stem cell or tumorigenic phenotypes such as invasion,metastasis and apoptosis resistance as well as drug resistance during EMT progression.There are a number of molecules that indicate the stage of EMT(e.g.,E-cadherin,an epithelial cell biomarker);therefore,certain transcriptional proteins,especially E-cadherin transcriptional repressors,may participate in the regulation of EMT.In addition,EMT regulation may be associated with certain epigenetic mechanisms.The aforementioned molecules can be used as early diagnostic markers for gastric cancer,and EMT regulation can provide potential targets for gastric cancer therapy.Here,we review the role of these aspects of EMT in gastric cancer initiation and development.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts in digestive tumors

The significant influence of tumor stroma on malignant cells has been extensively investigated in this era of targeted therapy. The tumor microenvironment, as a dynamic system, is orchestrated by various cells including tumor vascular composing cells, inflammatory cells and fibroblasts. As a major and important component in tumor stroma, increasing evidence has shown that spindle-shaped cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a significant modifier of cancer evolution, and promote tumorigenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis by stimulating angiogenesis, malignant cell survival, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and proliferation via direct cell-to-cell contact or secretion of soluble factors in most digestive solid tumors. CAFs are thought to be activated, characterized by the expression of α-smooth muscle actin, fibroblast activated protein, fibroblast specific protein, vimentin, fibronectin, etc. They are hypothesized to originate from normal or aged fibroblasts, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells, or vascular endothelial cells. EMT may also be an important process generating CAFs, and most probably, CAFs may originate from multiple cells. A close link exists between EMT, tumor stem cells, and chemo-resistance of tumor cells, which is largely orchestrated by CAFs. CAFs significantly induce immunosuppression, and may be a prognostic marker in various malignancies. Targeted therapy toward CAFs has displayed promising anticancer efficacy, which further reinforces the necessity to explore the relationship between CAFs and their hosts.

Oncoprotein HBXIP promotes tumorigenesis through MAPK/ERK pathway activation in non-small cell lung cancer

Objective:The oncoprotein,hepatitis B X-interacting protein(HBXIP),has been reported to play an important role in human malignancies.However,its functions in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)are poorly understood.The goal of the present study was to identify the role of HBXIP in the regulation of NSCLC development.Methods:The level of HBXIP expression in NSCLC tissue was assessed by immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses,and its relationships with clinicopathological features and outcomes were statistically evaluated.The effects of HBXIP on NSCLC cell progression were assessed through cell viability,colony formation,and flow cytometry analyses in vitro.The mechanism by which HBXIP regulated the MAPK pathway was studied by Western blot,immunofluorescence,and immunoprecipitation assays.In addition,in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the progression of NSCLC and ERK signaling pathway activation after HBXIP knockdown.Results:HBXIP was overexpressed in human NSCLC and was correlated with the invasiveness of NSCLC.The high expression of HBXIP in NSCLC was significantly correlated with gender(P=0.033),N stage(P=0.002),and tumor-node-metastasis stage(P=0.008).In vitro experiments using an NSCLC cell line revealed that HBXIP knockdown resulted in the suppression of cell proliferation and colony formation,which was consistent with the enhanced cell cycle arrest in G1 phase.The results of a mechanistic investigation suggested that binding of HBXIP to MEK1 protein promoted MAPK/ERK signaling pathway activation in NSCLC by preventing the proteasome-mediated degradation of MEK1.In addition,the results obtained using in vivo subcutaneous tumor xenografts confirmed that HBXIP deficiency decreased MEK1 protein levels and NSCLC tumor growth.Conclusions:Taken together,our results showed that the HBXIP-MEK interaction promoted oncogenesis via the MAPK/ERK pathway,which may serve as a novel therapeutic target for cancers in which MAPK/ERK signaling is a dominant feature.

Role of the mechanical microenvironment in cancer development and progression

Cross-talk between tumor cells and mechanical stress in the tumor microenvironment has been shown to be involved in carcinogenesis.High mechanical stress in tumors can alter the metabolism and behaviors of cancer cells and cause cancer cells to attain cancer stem-like cell properties,thus driving tumor progression and promoting metastasis.The mechanical signal is converted into a biochemical signal that activates tumorigenic signaling pathways through mechanotransduction.Herein,we describe the physical changes occurring during reprogramming of cancer cell metabolism,which regulate cancer stem cell functions and promote tumor progression and aggression.Furthermore,we highlight emerging therapeutic strategies targeting mechanotransduction signaling pathways.

Research advances of secretory proteins in malignant tumors

Secretory proteins in tumor tissues are important components of the tumor microenvironment.Secretory proteins act on tumor cells or stromal cells or mediate interactions between tumor cells and stromal cells,thereby affecting tumor progression and clinical treatment efficacy.In this paper,recent research advances in secretory proteins in malignant tumors are reviewed.

RNF43 is a novel tumor-suppressor and prognostic indicator in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Identifying prognostic indicators of clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC)and elucidating the mechanisms underlying ccRCC progression are crucial for improving ccRCC patient prognosis.This study investigated the clinical significance and biological role of Ring finger protein 43(RNF43)in ccRCC.Two independent cohorts of patients with ccRCC were employed to determine the prognostic significance of RNF43 by immunohistochemistry and statistical analyses.In vitro and in vivo experiments,RNA-seq,and other techniques were used to determine the biological role of RNF43 in ccRCC and related molecular mechanisms.RNF43 expression was commonly decreased in ccRCC specimens,and low expression of RNF43 indicated a higher TNM stage,SSIGN score,and WHO/ISUP grade and short survival in patients with ccRCC.Additionally,RNF43 overexpression suppressed the proliferation,migration,and targeted drug resistance of ccRCC cells,while the knockdown of RNF43 enhanced these characteristics of ccRCC.RNF43 knockdown activated YAP signaling by decreasing YAP phosphorylation by p-LATS1/2 and increasing the transcription and nuclear distribution of YAP.By contrast,RNF43 overexpression showed the opposite effects.Decreasing YAP abolished the effect of RNF43 knockdown in promoting the malignant features of ccRCC.Additionally,restoring RNF43 expression suppressed the resistance of the targeted drug pazopanib in in vivo orthotopic ccRCC.Furthermore,combining the expression of RNF43 and YAP with TNM stage or the SSIGN score exhibited greater accuracy than any of these indicators alone in assessing the postoperative prognosis of ccRCC patients.In summary,our study identified a novel tumor suppressor,RNF43,which is also a prognostic indicator and potential target for ccRCC.

Tumor circulome in the liquid biopsies for digestive tract cancer diagnosis and prognosis

Digestive tract cancer is one of the main diseases that endanger human health.At present,the early diagnosis of digestive tract tumors mainly depends on serology,imaging,endoscopy,and so on.Although tissue specimens are the gold standard for cancer diagnosis,with the rapid development of precision medicine in cancer,the demand for dynamic monitoring of tumor molecular characteristics has increased.Liquid biopsy involves the collection of body fluids via noninvasive approaches,and analyzes biological markers such as circulating tumor cells,circulating tumor DNA,circulating cell-free DNA,microRNAs,and exosomes.In recent years,liquid biopsy has become more and more important in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer in clinical practice due to its convenience,non-invasiveness,high specificity and it overcomes temporal-spatial heterogeneity.Therefore,this review summarizes the current evidence on liquid biopsies in digestive tract cancers in relation to diagnosis and prognosis.

莪术化学成分及抗肿瘤药理作用的研究进展

中药在肿瘤治疗领域展现出了其独特的魅力。莪术作为一种常见的中药材,其抗肿瘤作用逐渐受到医学界的重视。随着现代药理学的发展,莪术的多重功效逐渐被揭示。莪术不仅能够抑制肿瘤细胞的增殖,还能够诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,从而达到治疗肿瘤的效果。莪术对于多种类型的肿瘤都展现出了良好的治疗效果,如肺癌、肝癌、乳腺癌等。研究者们经过深入探索发现莪术中的某些活性成分能够干扰肿瘤细胞的信号传导通路,阻断其生长和扩散。同时,它还能够增强机体的免疫功能,提高患者对抗肿瘤的能力。莪术在肿瘤治疗领域的应用前景广阔。未来,随着研究的深入,莪术将为更多的肿瘤患者带来福音,为肿瘤治疗开辟出一条新的道路。文章将对莪术的现代药理学作用、能够治疗的肿瘤种类以及其治疗肿瘤的机制进行详细的综述。

miR-106b promotes cancer progression in hepatitis B virusassociated hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the effect of mi R-106 b on tumor progression in hepatitis B virus(HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS: A total of 120 patients who underwent liver resection for HCC at National Cheng Kung University Hospital were enrolled in the present study. Micro RNA(mi RNA) array was first used to screen the mi RNA expression profiles in HCC patients. The clinical records were retrospectively analyzed, and correlations with the mi RNA expression profiles were evaluated. The m RNA expression levels of the mi R-106b-25 cluster(mi R-106 b, mi R-93 and mi R-25), and MCM7 in tumor and non-tumor samples were quantitated using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(q-RT-PCR) analysis, and correlations in the levels of mi R-106 b, mi R-93 and mi R-25 expression were calculated. Kaplan-Meier overall and diseasefree survival rates of HBV-associated HCC patients were analyzed using the log-rank test based on mi R-106 b expression. The comparison of the mi R-106 b expression levels in patients with different clinical outcomes was analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests. Furthermore, a hepatitis B virus X protein(HBx) expression plasmid was transfected into Huh7 and Hep 3B cells. The expression levels of the mi R-106b-25 cluster and MCM7 in HBx-expressing Huh7 and Hep 3B cells were detected using q-RT-PCR. RESULTS: mi RNA array screening showed that mi R-106 b and its cluster, mi R-93 and mi R-25 were upregulated in HCC patients(P < 0.01). The value of mi R-106 b expression in HBV-associated HCC patients was significantly higher than that in HCV-(P < 0.05) or non-B/non-C-(P < 0.001) associated HCC patients. The expression of the mi R-106b-25 cluster was significantly higher in tumor tissue(P < 0.001) and associated with the host gene, MCM7, in clinical specimens from HBVassociated HCC patients. Furthermore, the expression levels of mi R-106 b, mi R-93 and mi R-25 were positively correlated in HBV-associated HCC tissues(mi R-106 vs mi R-93, r = 0.75; mi R-93 vs mi R-25, r = 0.69; mi R-106 b vs mi R-25, r = 0.33). The overall and diseasefree survival curves showed that high-mi R-106 b expression was correlated with the poor prognosis of HBV-associated HCC. HCC differentiation was significantly correlated with mi R-106 b expression(P < 0.05). Lower mi R-106 b expression levels resulted in the well differentiation of HCC. Moreover, the expression of the mi R106b-25 cluster and MCM7 was up-regulated in Huh7 and Hep 3B cells after transfection with the HBx expression plasmid.CONCLUSION: The data obtained in the present study suggests that HBx enhances mi R-106 b transcription to promote tumor progression in HBV-associated HCC.

Hematopoietic stem cell-derived adipocytes and fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment(TME) is complex and constantly evolving. This is due, in part, to the crosstalk between tumor cells and the multiple cell types that comprise the TME, which results in a heterogeneous population of tumor cells and TME cells. This review will focus on two stromal cell types, the cancerassociated adipocyte(CAA) and the cancer-associated fibroblast(CAF). In the clinic, the presence of CAAs and CAFs in the TME translates to poor prognosis in multiple tumor types. CAAs and CAFs have an activated phenotype and produce growth factors, inflammatory factors, cytokines, chemokines, extracellular matrix components, and proteases in an accelerated and aberrant fashion. Through this activated state, CAAs and CAFs remodel the TME, thereby driving all aspects of tumor progression, including tumor growth and survival, chemoresistance, tumor vascularization, tumor invasion, and tumor cell metastasis. Similarities in the tumorpromoting functions of CAAs and CAFs suggest that a multipronged therapeutic approach may be necessary to achieve maximal impact on disease. While CAAs and CAFs are thought to arise from tissues adjacent to the tumor, multiple alternative origins for CAAs and CAFs have recently been identified. Recent studies from our lab and others suggest that the hematopoietic stem cell, through the myeloid lineage, may serve as a progenitor for CAAs and CAFs. We hypothesize that the multiple origins of CAAs and CAFs may contribute to the heterogeneity seen in the TME. Thus, a better understanding of the origin of CAAs and CAFs, how this origin impacts their functions in the TME, and thetemporal participation of uniquely originating TME cells may lead to novel or improved anti-tumor therapeutics.