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MicroRNAs as mediators and communicators between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment

Oncogene volume 34, pages 5857–5868 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Cancer cells grow in an environment comprised of multiple components that support tumor growth and contribute to therapy resistance. Major cell types in the tumor microenvironment are fibroblasts, endothelial cells and infiltrating immune cells all of which communicate with cancer cells. One way that these cell types promote cancer progression is by altering the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), small noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate protein expression, either in the cancer cells or in the associated normal cells. Changes in miRNA expression can be brought about by direct interaction between the stromal cells and cancer cells, by paracrine factors secreted by any of the cell types or even through direct communication between cells through secreted miRNAs. Understanding the role of miRNAs in the complex interactions between the tumor and cells in its microenvironment is necessary if we are to understand tumor progression and devise new treatments.

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Abbreviations

VE-cadherin:

vascular endothelial cadherin

IGFBP2:

insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2

MERTK:

c-mer proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase

MMP-2:

matrix metallopeptidase 2

VEGF:

vascular endothelial growth factor

HIF1A:

hypoxia inducible factor 1, alpha subunit

IL:

interleukin

VEGFR:

vascular endothelial growth factor receptor

TGF-β:

transforming growth factor beta

ETS2:

v-ets avian erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog 2

EMILIN2:

elastin microfibril interfacer 2

CCL5:

chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5

PTEN:

phosphatase and tensin homolog

SOCS1:

suppressor of cytokine signaling 1

STAT3:

signal transducer and activator of transcription 3

CEBPB:

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), beta

HCC:

hepatocellular carcinoma

PDGFRA:

platelet-derived growth factor receptor, alpha polypeptide

FGF:

fibroblast growth factor

EMT:

epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

MDSC:

myeloid-derived suppressor cell

AKT:

v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog

OvCa:

ovarian cancer

TAM:

tumor-associated macrophage

MSC:

mesenchymal stem cell

TLR:

Toll-like receptor

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Acknowledgements

FK was supported by grants T32 CA070085 and F32 CA180677. MEP and EL were supported by an OCRF program project development grant FP049318/PPD/UC.

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  1. F J Kohlhapp

    Present address: 4Current address: Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, 1750 West Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.,

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    F J Kohlhapp & M E Peter

  2. Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA

    A K Mitra

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology/Section of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    E Lengyel

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  1. F J Kohlhapp
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Correspondence to M E Peter.

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Kohlhapp, F., Mitra, A., Lengyel, E. et al. MicroRNAs as mediators and communicators between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. Oncogene 34, 5857–5868 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2015.89

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2015.89

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