What happens to immune cells in the TME?

In the tumor microenvironment (TME), immune cells often interact significantly with cancer cells. This interaction is crucial for understanding how tumors evade the immune response. Immune cells, such as T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, are present in the TME and can be influenced by the tumor's characteristics.

These immune cells may attempt to recognize and destroy cancer cells, but tumors can secrete various factors that enable them to evade detection or suppress immune functions. For example, they may produce immunosuppressive cytokines or recruit regulatory T cells that inhibit other immune cells' activity. This leads to a complex interplay where immune cells can become dysfunctional or may even support tumor growth instead of fighting it.

Understanding these interactions is essential for the development of cancer immunotherapies aimed at enhancing the immune response against tumors. By recognizing that immune cells significantly interact with cancer cells in the TME, researchers and healthcare providers can better strategize interventions to restore effective immune activity against tumors.