The influence of the microenvironment on the malignant phenotype

Normal tissue homeostasis is maintained by dynamic interactions between epi thelial cells and their microenvironment. As tissue becomes cancerous, ther e are reciprocal interactions between neoplastic cells, adjacent normal cel ls such as stroma and endothelium, and their microenvironments. The current dominant paradigm wherein multiple genetic lesions provide bath the impetu s for, and the Achilles heel of, cancer might be inadequate to understand c ancer as a disease process. In the following brief review, rye will use sel ected examples to illustrate the influence of the microenvironment in the e volution of the malignant phenotype. We will also discuss recent studies th at suggest novel therapeutic interventions might be derived from focusing o n microenvironment and tumor cells interactions.