IMMUNE-MICROENVIRONMENT DYNAMICS IN CANCER: IMPLICATIONS FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY

Understanding the intricate interplay between cancer cells and the immune microenvironment is crucial for advancing immunotherapy strategies. This review explores the intricate landscape of the TME, focusing on its diverse cellular and molecular components and their roles in immune evasion and immunotherapy response. The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises a complex network of immune cells, stromal cells, and soluble factors that dynamically interact with cancer cells. This dynamic crosstalk shapes the tumors immune landscape, influencing tumor progression, metastasis, and response to therapy. In recent years, immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by targeting immune checkpoints, enhancing immune cell activation, and modulating the TME. However, the heterogeneous nature of the TME and the evolving tumor-immune interactions pose challenges for effective immunotherapy. This review discusses the diverse cellular and molecular components of the TME, their roles in immune evasion, and the mechanisms underlying response or resistance to immunotherapy. Insights gained from unraveling the complexities of the TME hold promise for developing personalized immunotherapy approaches tailored to individual patients.