title: Role of the tumor microenvironment in regulating apoptosis and cancer progression.
abstract: Apoptosis is a gene-directed program that is engaged to efficiently eliminate dysfunctional cells. Evasion of apoptosis may be an important gate to tumor initiation and therapy resistance. Like any other developmental program, apoptosis can be disrupted by several genetic aberrations driving malignant cells into an uncontrolled progression and survival. For its sustained growth, cancer develops in a complex environment, which provides survival signals and rescues malignant cells from apoptosis. Recent studies have clearly shown a wide interaction between tumor cells and their microenvironment, confirming the influence of the surrounding cells on tumor expansion and invasion. These non-malignant cells not only intensify tumor cells growth but also upgrade the process of metastasis. The strong crosstalk between malignant cells and a reactive microenvironment is mediated by soluble chemokines and cytokines, which act on tumor cells through surface receptors. Disturbing the microenvironment signaling might be an encouraging approach for patient's treatment. Therefore, the ultimate knowledge of "tumor-microenvironment" interactions facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic procedures that mobilize cancer cells from their supportive cells. This review focuses on cancer progression mediated by the dysfunction of apoptosis and by the fundamental relationship between tumor and reactive cells. New insights and valuable targets for cancer prevention and therapy are also presented.
authors.affiliation: Université Rennes 1, 2 Av. du Pr Léon Bernard, Rennes Cedex 35043, France; UMR INSERM, 917, 2 Av. du Pr Léon Bernard, Rennes Cedex 35043, France; INSERM ER440-OSS, CLCC Eugène Marquis, Rue Bataille Flandres Dunkerque, Rennes 35042, France.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yaacoub
authors.affiliation: Université Rennes 1, 2 Av. du Pr Léon Bernard, Rennes Cedex 35043, France; INSERM ER440-OSS, CLCC Eugène Marquis, Rue Bataille Flandres Dunkerque, Rennes 35042, France.
authors.forename: Remy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pedeux
authors.affiliation: Université Rennes 1, 2 Av. du Pr Léon Bernard, Rennes Cedex 35043, France; UMR INSERM, 917, 2 Av. du Pr Léon Bernard, Rennes Cedex 35043, France.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tarte
authors.affiliation: Université Rennes 1, 2 Av. du Pr Léon Bernard, Rennes Cedex 35043, France; UMR INSERM, 917, 2 Av. du Pr Léon Bernard, Rennes Cedex 35043, France; INSERM ER440-OSS, CLCC Eugène Marquis, Rue Bataille Flandres Dunkerque, Rennes 35042, France; UMS CNRS3480/US 018 INSERM BIOSIT, 2 Av. du Pr Léon Bernard, Rennes Cedex 35043, France. Electronic address: thierry.guillaudeux@univ-rennes1.fr.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guillaudeux
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019139:Tumor Escape; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic
keywords: Apoptosis; Immune escape; Inflammation; Microenvironment; Resistance