Transforming Cancer Therapy: Unlocking the Potential of Targeting Vascular and Stromal Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment

Lu Liu; Yuheng Zhang; Hanyu Liu; Jian Yang; Qi Tian; Nareekarn Chueakula; Saravana Ramasamy; Navin Kumar Verma; Christine Cheung; Anjali P. Kusumbe

doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-4744

Transforming Cancer Therapy: Unlocking the Potential of Targeting Vascular and Stromal Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment

Lu Liu, Yuheng Zhang, Hanyu Liu, Jian Yang, Qi Tian, Nareekarn Chueakula, Saravana Ramasamy, Navin Kumar Verma, Christine Cheung, Anjali P. Kusumbe^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment (TME) orchestrates cancer progression by fostering a complex interplay between cancer cells and the surrounding cellular and acellular elements. Through dynamic interactions with cancer cells, vascular and stromal cells not only promote tumor growth but also enhance metastatic potential and restrict therapeutic responses. Vascular and stromal cells play a critical role in regulating epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and sustaining resistance pathways, making them compelling targets for innovative therapies. This review delves into the vascular and stromal components of the TME, their contributions to EMT and resistance mechanisms, and emerging strategies to target these interactions for improved cancer therapy outcomes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2152-2164
Number of pages	13
Journal	Cancer Research
Volume	85
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-4744
Publication status	Published - Jun 15 2025
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
©2025 The Authors;

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Oncology
Cancer Research

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-4744

Cite this

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title = "Transforming Cancer Therapy: Unlocking the Potential of Targeting Vascular and Stromal Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment",

abstract = "The tumor microenvironment (TME) orchestrates cancer progression by fostering a complex interplay between cancer cells and the surrounding cellular and acellular elements. Through dynamic interactions with cancer cells, vascular and stromal cells not only promote tumor growth but also enhance metastatic potential and restrict therapeutic responses. Vascular and stromal cells play a critical role in regulating epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and sustaining resistance pathways, making them compelling targets for innovative therapies. This review delves into the vascular and stromal components of the TME, their contributions to EMT and resistance mechanisms, and emerging strategies to target these interactions for improved cancer therapy outcomes.",

author = "Lu Liu and Yuheng Zhang and Hanyu Liu and Jian Yang and Qi Tian and Nareekarn Chueakula and Saravana Ramasamy and Verma, \{Navin Kumar\} and Christine Cheung and Kusumbe, \{Anjali P.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright}2025 The Authors;",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-4744",

language = "English",

volume = "85",

pages = "2152--2164",

journal = "Cancer Research",

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publisher = "American Association for Cancer Research Inc.",

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T1 - Transforming Cancer Therapy

T2 - Unlocking the Potential of Targeting Vascular and Stromal Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment

AU - Liu, Lu

AU - Zhang, Yuheng

AU - Liu, Hanyu

AU - Yang, Jian

AU - Tian, Qi

AU - Chueakula, Nareekarn

AU - Ramasamy, Saravana

AU - Verma, Navin Kumar

AU - Cheung, Christine

AU - Kusumbe, Anjali P.

PY - 2025/6/15

Y1 - 2025/6/15

N2 - The tumor microenvironment (TME) orchestrates cancer progression by fostering a complex interplay between cancer cells and the surrounding cellular and acellular elements. Through dynamic interactions with cancer cells, vascular and stromal cells not only promote tumor growth but also enhance metastatic potential and restrict therapeutic responses. Vascular and stromal cells play a critical role in regulating epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and sustaining resistance pathways, making them compelling targets for innovative therapies. This review delves into the vascular and stromal components of the TME, their contributions to EMT and resistance mechanisms, and emerging strategies to target these interactions for improved cancer therapy outcomes.

AB - The tumor microenvironment (TME) orchestrates cancer progression by fostering a complex interplay between cancer cells and the surrounding cellular and acellular elements. Through dynamic interactions with cancer cells, vascular and stromal cells not only promote tumor growth but also enhance metastatic potential and restrict therapeutic responses. Vascular and stromal cells play a critical role in regulating epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and sustaining resistance pathways, making them compelling targets for innovative therapies. This review delves into the vascular and stromal components of the TME, their contributions to EMT and resistance mechanisms, and emerging strategies to target these interactions for improved cancer therapy outcomes.

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DO - 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-4744

M3 - Review article

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AN - SCOPUS:105008681320

SN - 0008-5472

VL - 85

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JO - Cancer Research

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Transforming Cancer Therapy: Unlocking the Potential of Targeting Vascular and Stromal Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

UN SDGs

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