Clinical Report: The Influence of Immune and Stromal Factors on Metastatic Niches

Overview

This editorial discusses the critical roles of immune and stromal factors in the formation of pre-metastatic and metastatic niches, emphasizing their impact on tumor progression and treatment resistance. It highlights the need for combination therapies targeting these interactions to improve clinical outcomes in cancer patients.

Background

Incorporate recent research findings to support the discussion on mechanisms of metastasis.

Data Highlights

No numerical data available in the editorial.

Key Findings

• Stromal and immune interactions are crucial in the formation of pre-metastatic and metastatic niches.
• Organ-specific characteristics influence the immune response and treatment resistance in metastatic disease.
• Platelets and their derived extracellular vesicles play significant roles in promoting tumor cell survival and metastasis.
• Osteoclasts in the bone microenvironment can suppress NK cell activity, facilitating immune evasion by cancer cells.
• Nidogen-1 is identified as a barrier to metastatic colonization, with its loss promoting metastasis.

Clinical Implications

Detail practical implementation strategies for combination therapies in clinical settings.

Conclusion

The interplay between immune and stromal factors is fundamental in the metastatic process, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic approaches that address these interactions to improve patient outcomes.

Related Resources & Content

1. Frontiers in Immunology, 2026 -- Orchestrating the pre-metastatic niche: roles of stromal mediators and immune cells in metastatic progression and therapeutic targeting
2. Frontiers in Immunology, 2026 -- Organ-specific pre-metastatic and metastatic niches in colorectal cancer: “discrepancy in response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in liver and lung metastasis”
3. Frontiers in Oncology, 2026 -- Editorial: Exploring the tumor microenvironment in resectable lung cancer
4. The role of the immune tumor microenvironment in shaping metastatic dissemination, dormancy, and outgrowth - ScienceDirect
5. Frontiers in Oncology — Editorial: Insights into gastrointestinal cancer metastasis from preclinical models
6. Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Without Systemic Therapy for Oligometastatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | JAMA Network Open
7. The role of the immune tumor microenvironment in shaping metastatic dissemination, dormancy, and outgrowth - ScienceDirect
8. KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Demonstrates Long-Term Survival Benefit in Certain Patients With Earlier or Advanced Stages of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) - Merck.com