title: Mechanisms of tumor escape from immune system: role of mesenchymal stromal cells.
abstract: Tumor microenvironment represents the site where the tumor tries to survive and escape from immune system-mediated recognition. Indeed, to proliferate tumor cells can divert the immune response inducing the generation of myeloid derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells which can limit the efficiency of effector antitumor lymphocytes in eliminating neoplastic cells. Many components of the tumor microenvironment can serve as a double sword for the tumor and the host. Several types of fibroblast-like cells, which herein we define mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), secrete extracellular matrix components and surrounding the tumor mass can limit the expansion of the tumor. On the other hand, MSC can interfere with the immune recognition of tumor cells producing immunoregulatory cytokines as transforming growth factor (TGF)ß, releasing soluble ligands of the activating receptors expressed on cytolytic effector cells as decoy molecules, affecting the correct interaction among lymphocytes and tumor cells. MSC can also serve as target for the same anti-tumor effector lymphocytes or simply impede the interaction between these lymphocytes and neoplastic cells. Thus, several evidences point out the role of MSC, both in epithelial solid tumors and hematological malignancies, in regulating tumor cell growth and immune response. Herein, we review these evidences and suggest that MSC can be a suitable target for a more efficient anti-tumor therapy.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Oncology and Angiogenesis Unit, IRCCS AOU San Martino IST, 16132 Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: alessandro.poggi@hsanmartino.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poggi
authors.affiliation: Molecular Oncology and Angiogenesis Unit, IRCCS AOU San Martino IST, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Musso
authors.affiliation: Molecular Oncology and Angiogenesis Unit, IRCCS AOU San Martino IST, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dapino
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Transplants and Infectious Diseases, Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele Milan, 20132 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Raffaella
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zocchi
mesh_terms: D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007167:Immunotherapy; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019139:Tumor Escape / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology; D053319:Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053319:Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors
keywords: Fibrocytes; Immunosuppression; MSC; NK; NKG2D; TAF