Paracrine Regulation and Immune System Pathways in the Inflammatory Tumor Microenvironment of Lung Cancer: Insights into Oncogenesis and Immunotherapeutic Strategies
1
School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
2
Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
3
Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2024, 16(6), 1113; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16061113
Submission received: 29 January 2024
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Revised: 5 March 2024
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Accepted: 7 March 2024
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Published: 10 March 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune System Pathways in Inflammatory Tumor Microenvironment and Carcinogenesis)
Simple Summary
Despite massive strides taken across the board in oncology, there remain gaps in understanding the relationship between cancer cells and the body’s immune system, tissues, and signaling pathways. This review explores some of the recent steps made toward filling these gaps and understanding how certain cytokine signals create a tumor microenvironment that facilitates the growth and survival of cancer cells. New treatment approaches targeting these facilitators have been developed as potential disruptors of tumor growth. Lastly, a discussion of current gaps in the research can help navigate new directions to continue life-saving research for lung cancer treatments.
Abstract
The intricate interplay between inflammatory processes and the tumor microenvironment (TME) in lung cancer has garnered increasing attention due to its implications for both oncogenesis and therapeutic strategies. In this review, we explore recent advances in understanding the paracrine regulation and immune system pathways within the inflammatory TME of lung cancer. We delve into the molecular mechanisms underpinning oncogenesis, highlighting the role of immune cell populations, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, as well as their interactions through immune system pathways regulated in a paracrine pattern. Additionally, we discuss emerging immunotherapeutic strategies with a specific focus on the potential of leveraging the inflammatory TME through these pathways to enhance treatment efficacy in lung cancer.
Keywords:
lung cancer; paracrine regulation; immunotherapy; TME
