Abstract
Cancers are complex tissues composed by genetically altered cancer cells and stromal elements such as inflammatory/immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and pericytes, neuronal cells, and a non-cellular component, the extracellular matrix. The complex network of interactions and crosstalk established between cancer cells and the supportig cellular and non-cellular components of the microenvironment are of extreme importance for tumor initiation and progression, strongly impacting the course and the outcome of the disease. Therefore, a better understanding of the tumorigenic processes implies the combined study of the cancer cell and the biologic, chemical and mechanic constituents of the tumor microenvironment, as their concerted action plays a major role in the carcinogenic pathway and is a key determinant of the efficacy of anti-cancer treatments. The use of animal models (e.g. Mouse, Zebrafish and Drosophila) to study cancer has greatly impacted our understanding of the processes governing initiation, progression and metastasis and allowed the discovery and pre-clinical validation of novel cancer treatments as it allows to recreate tumor development in a more pathophysiologic environment.
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20 February 2024
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Acknowledgements
AR, SM, FM were hired through FEDER funds through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors (COMPETE 2020), Programa Operacional de Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI), Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (Norte 2020), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and by National Funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), under the projects POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031354, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016390, and NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000029, respectively. SV and JC were hired by IPATIMUP under norma transitória do DL n.° 57/2016 alterada pela Law n.° 57/2017.
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Mendes, N. et al. (2020). Animal Models to Study Cancer and Its Microenvironment. In: Serpa, J. (eds) Tumor Microenvironment . Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1219. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34025-4_20
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