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The evolution of the cancer niche during multistage carcinogenesis

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 13, pages 511–518 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

The concept of the tumour microenvironment recognizes that the interplay between cancer cells and stromal cells is a crucial determinant of cancer growth. In this Perspectives article, we propose the novel concept that the tumour microenvironment is built through rate-limiting steps during multistage carcinogenesis. Construction of a 'precancer niche' is a necessary and early step that is required for initiated cells to survive and evolve; subsequent niche expansion and maturation accompany tumour promotion and progression, respectively. As such, cancer niches represent an emergent property of a tumour that could be a robust target for cancer prevention and therapy.

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Figure 1: The dynamic cancer niche.
Figure 2: Schematic of niche construction, expansion and maturation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank C. Maley for helpful discussions and apologize to those whose work was not cited owing to space limitations. M.H.B.H. is supported by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Specialized Center for Research in Radiation Health Effects, grant NNX09AM52G. D.L. is supported by the Hartwell Foundation, the Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation and the Champalimaud Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mary Helen Barcellos-Hoff is at The Department of Radiation Oncology, New York University School of Medicine, 566 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA.,

    Mary Helen Barcellos-Hoff

  2. Departments of Pediatrics, David Lyden is at The Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10021, USA,

    David Lyden

  3. and Champalimaud Metastasis Centre, Lisbon, Portugal.,

    David Lyden

  4. Timothy C.Wang is at The Department of Medicine and Irving Cancer Research Center, Columbia University Medical Center, 130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, New York 10032–3802, USA.,

    Timothy C. Wang

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Correspondence to Mary Helen Barcellos-Hoff, David Lyden or Timothy C. Wang.

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Barcellos-Hoff, M., Lyden, D. & Wang, T. The evolution of the cancer niche during multistage carcinogenesis. Nat Rev Cancer 13, 511–518 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3536

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