title: Interaction of tumor cells with the microenvironment.
abstract: Recent advances in tumor biology have revealed that a detailed analysis of the complex interactions of tumor cells with their adjacent microenvironment (tumor stroma) is mandatory in order to understand the various mechanisms involved in tumor growth and the development of metastasis. The mutual interactions between tumor cells and cellular and non-cellular components (extracellular matrix = ECM) of the tumor microenvironment will eventually lead to a loss of tissue homeostasis and promote tumor development and progression. Thus, interactions of genetically altered tumor cells and the ECM on the one hand and reactive non-neoplastic cells on the other hand essentially control most aspects of tumorigenesis such as epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), migration, invasion (i.e. migration through connective tissue), metastasis formation, neovascularisation, apoptosis and chemotherapeutic drug resistance. In this mini-review we will focus on these issues that were recently raised by two review articles in CCS.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. hendrik.ungefroren@uk-sh.de.
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ungefroren
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sebens
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seidl
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lehnert
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hass