What is Tumor Microenvironment?
The tumor microenvironment encompasses the complex cellular ecosystem surrounding a tumor that plays a critical role in supporting or restraining cancer progression. Understanding tumor-microenvironment interactions has emerged as a therapeutic frontier for developing more effective cancer treatments.
Key components of the tumor microenvironment include stromal cells, immune cells, vasculature, extracellular matrix, and secreted factors like cytokines and growth factors. This dynamic niche engages in reciprocal signaling with cancer cells, profoundly influencing tumor initiation, growth, metastasis, and therapeutic responsiveness.
NFCR's Current Early Detection & Intervention Focus
A little over 2 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2024 – 20% of new cancer diagnoses come from cancer survivors. One of NFCR’s current focuses is to conduct more research on early cancer detection and early-stage cancer intervention and treatment. We are supporting a group of leading-edge scientists pioneering and investigating innovative approaches to stop cancers at their early stage, such as stage zero, and to detect them before new cancer happens.
Our goal is to reduce cancer incidences and increase cancer survivors. Through a focus on the detection and eradication of the first cancer cell, we can stop cancer before it starts!
NFCR IMPACTS IN EARLY DETECTION AND INTERVENTION RESEARCH
- NFCR has funded research on biomarkers and imaging techniques to improve early detection of cancer, leading to advances like the discovery of altered methylation patterns in precancerous cells.
- Through its public education and awareness efforts, NFCR promotes prevention behaviors like healthy eating, exercise, and recommended cancer screenings that can reduce cancer risk and incidence.
- The Foundation provides funding for chemoprevention research investigating the effectiveness of natural compounds (e.g. antioxidants) and drugs to prevent cancer, furthering the development of risk-reducing options.
NFCR IMPACTS IN TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
- NFCR continues driving innovation in these realms through current funding of preclinical models and correlative translational investigations of novel microenvironment-directed therapies.
- NFCR has funded investigation of microenvironment-mediated treatment resistance pathways as targets for sensitizing tumors to immunotherapy.
- NFCR promotes collaborations between engineers and cancer researchers to advance innovative parceled drug delivery systems targeting the tumor microenvironment.
NFCR-Supported Researchers Working on Tumor Microenvironment
Rakesh K. Jain, Ph.D.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Kornelia Polyak, M.D., Ph.D
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
Valerie M. Weaver, Ph.D
University of California San Francisco
Aaron N. Hata, M.D., Ph.D.
Harvard Medical School and
Massachusetts General Hospital
Lisa Coussens, Ph.D.
Oregon Health & Science University
Elana Fertig, Ph.D
Johns Hopkins University
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., FACP
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)
Learn More About Early Detection & Intervention (Media)
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