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Here, I break down scientific literature that sparks my curiosity and translate complex research into clear, digestible ideas for readers of all backgrounds. Each article is an opportunity to deepen my understanding of cancer science while exploring how new discoveries connect to my interests in biomedical engineering, cancer engineering, therapeutics, and translational research. Think of it as my growing literature review, shared one paper at a time.
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is the region around a tumor and is constantly changing its physiochemical state. Hypoxia is a lack of oxygen around the tumor. Why does the lack of oxygen happen? This goes back to the core definition of a tumor. A tumor is a mass made up of different cells that are dividing uncontrollably. In order to undergo cell division, oxygen is required. The cancer cells are quite literally stealing the oxygen from healthy parts of the body in order to undergo uncontrolled cell division (neoplasia). Cells divide uncontrollably through mutation in the DNA or when something happens during a cell's progenitor state. A progenitor state is sort of like a cell that has yet to receive any instruction to become a specific tissue type. This instruction to become a specific tissue type is called differentiation. Think of unemployment vs. employment. When something is wrong with differentiation, the cells do not receive any instruction to become or do anything (ex. halt cell division).
There are three types of differentiation. Dedifferentiation is when a mature, specialized cell actually reverts back to a progenitor cell and regains the proliferative characteristics associated with progenitor cells (neoplasia). Blocked differentiation is when the progenitor cell fails to mature and divides uncontrollably. Transdifferentiation is when a progenitor cell already has a set path of what tissue type it is going to be, but changes to a different tissue type (think of a midlife crisis and changing professions for the worse). Nonmutational epigenetic reprogramming is when the genetic output of DNA is changed through silencing portions of the DNA. This is caused by the TME or the mutation or deletion of the DNA. This reprogramming actually silences portions of the DNA responsible for creating tumor suppressing genes. These tumor suppressing genes are usually proteins that remind certain progenitor cells what they are supposed to mature into (think of a strict parent). In cases with cancer that is caused by the silencing of tumor suppressing genes, mimetics (molecules that resemble these tumor suppressing genes) can be used as therapy to cure these specific cancers. Bad microenvironments (dysbiosis) can also increase the mutagenesis (mutations occurring in the DNA). Cellular senescence is a state in which cells stop dividing (primarily caused by stress, DNA damage, or radiation/chemotherapy). Typically this state halts cancer cell division, but in some cases, it can release signaling proteins for tumor growth.
Cancer is a result of many factors: mutagenesis, epigenetic changes, tumor microenvironment, selection, abnormal cell identity, and differentiation.
HALLMARKS OF CANCER: NEW DIMENSIONS
DOUGLAS HANAHAN | 2021
UNDERSTANDING THE TUMOR IMMUNE MICROENVIRONMENT (TIME) FOR EFFECTIVE THERAPY
MIKHAIL BINNEWIES | 2018
The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is why cancer is such a tough battle and why there is no universal treatment invented yet. As we know, tumor are especially tricky to treat, as they are known to evade the body's immune system. There are three main types of tumor immune microenvironments. Infiltrated-excluded (I-E) TIMEs are where the immune cells (T cells and B cells) are found outside of the tumor and have no way of penetrating the tumor. These kinds of TIMEs are present within serious cancers like melanoma since these tumors exhibit immunological ignorance. Infiltrated-inflammed (I-I) TIMEs are where the T cells actually exhibit high activity within the tumor and respond well to ICB treatment. Immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs) block the blockers of T cells (think of them playing our body's defense and blocking attackers from shutting down our T cells). T cells kill cancer cells. Tertiary Lymphoid Structure (TLS) TIMEs are when theres a sac attached near the tumor full of immune cells that assist in the immunological response. Autologous tumor vaccines are actually when the patient's cancer cells are extracted and administered back into the problem area to promote the creation of a TLS TIME. WORK IN PROGRESS
