Tumor Microenvironment – Possibilities of the Research Under In Vitro Conditions

Czech version

Authors: P. Chlapek ¹; S. Chovanová ^1,2; V. Sláviková ¹; R. Veselska ^1,3
Authors‘ workplace: Laboratoř nádorové biologie, Ústav experimentální biologie, Přírodovědecká fakulta MU, Brno ¹; Regionální centrum aplikované molekulární onkologie, Masarykův onkologický ústav, Brno ²; Klinika dětské onkologie LF MU a FN Brno ³
Published in: Klin Onkol 2014; 27(Supplementum): 48-52

Overview

Tumorigenesis is always accompanied by alterations of the microenvironment in the respective tissue. The tumor microenvironment represents a heterogeneous complex, in which cell proliferation, differentiation, necrosis or apoptosis are regulated by various extracellular stimuli, and it can also lead to development of an aggressive phenotype of tumor cells. Influence of tumor microenvironment is also often connected with resistance to frequently used therapeutic procedures. Specifics of the tumor microenvironment are closely associated with the structural and functional abnormalities of tumor microvessels and altered cellular metabolism. Moreover, changes such as increase in glycolysis, elevated glucose uptake, production of lactate and CO₂, and presence of hypoxic regions and regions with acidic pH are typical features of tumor tissues. At present, there is a lot of methods for in vitro simulation and investigation of some of these specific conditions, and a number of new methods are being developed. A detailed understanding of the specifics of the tumor microenvironment should increasingly improve the development of new treatment possibilities of human cancers.

Key words:
tumor microenvironment – hypoxia – acidic pH – glucose deprivation – in vitro conditions

This study was supported by project CEB:
OP VK CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0183), by project MUNI/C/0944/2013 and by the European Regional Development Fund and the State Budget of the Czech Republic (RECAMO; CZ.1.05./2.1.00/03.0101).

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers.

Submitted:
15. 1. 2014

Accepted:
5. 5. 2014

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