Cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor and radiotherapy: interactions in the tumor micro-environment.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent a group of genotypically non-malignant stromal cells in the tumor micro-environment (TME) of solid tumors that encompasses up to 80% of the tumor volume. Even though the phenotypic diversity and plasticity of CAFs complicates research, it is well-established that CAFs can affect many aspects of tumor progression, including growth, invasion and therapy resistance. Although anti-tumorigenic properties of CAFs have been reported, the majority of research demonstrates a pro-tumorigenic role for CAFs via (in)direct signaling to cancer cells, immunomodulation and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling.

Mechanical HIFU and immune checkpoint inhibition: toward clinical implementation.

Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) has significantly advanced the field of immuno-oncology, yet not all patients benefit from this therapy. Combining ICI with other therapeutic modalities, including tumor ablation, is currently being explored as a method to enhance ICI efficacy. Mechanical High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (M-HIFU) represents a promising tumor ablative therapy, inducing cavitation within the tumor, resulting in tumor cell destruction and the release of danger signals and tumor antigens, two key factors contributing to anti-tumor immune responses.

The role of dendritic cells in tertiary lymphoid structures: implications in cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Tertiary Lymphoid Structures (TLS) are organized aggregates of immune cells such as T cells, B cells, and Dendritic Cells (DCs), as well as fibroblasts, formed postnatally in response to signals from cytokines and chemokines. Central to the function of TLS are DCs, professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that coordinate the adaptive immune response, and which can be classified into different subsets, with specific functions, and markers. In this article, we review current data on the contribution of different DC subsets to TLS function in cancer and autoimmunity, two opposite sides of the immune response.

Inhibition of OXPHOS induces metabolic rewiring and reduces hypoxia in murine tumor models.

Introduction: Tumor hypoxia is a feature of many solid malignancies and is known to cause radio resistance. In recent years it has become clear that hypoxic tumor regions also foster an immunosuppressive phenotype and are involved in immunotherapy resistance. It has been proposed that reducing the tumors' oxygen consumption will result in an increased oxygen concentration in the tissue and improve radio- and immunotherapy efficacy.