Deconstructing Tumor Heterogeneity Workshop: The Stromal Perspective
Breast cancer cells (pink, orange, and purple) in the supportive tissue, or stroma (green, red, and yellow), of the tumor microenvironment.
Credit: National Cancer Institute
The overarching goals of this workshop held in September 2019 were to build upon advances in tumor-immune interactions and to highlight the critical functions of stromal cell types within the context of their contribution to tumor heterogeneity.
Attendees of the workshop participated in the following activities:
- Explored the concept of tumor supportive vs tumor suppressive stroma and the role of dynamic cellular composition during disease progression
- Discussed mechanisms by which the microenvironment may promote indolence or drive aggressiveness of early lesions
- Highlighted emerging themes of stromal plasticity and tumor-stromal crosstalk
- Examined how spatial geography impacts stromal attributes and function
- Discussed therapeutic implications and potential vulnerabilities within the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment
- Identified current challenges and knowledge gaps in the field
Documents from the Workshop
Workshop Report
A summary of the meeting was published in Oncotarget: Deconstructing Tumor Heterogeneity: The Stromal Perspective
DCB Contacts for the Workshop
For additional information about the workshop, please contact Dr. Jeff Hildesheim or Dr. Elizabeth Woodhouse.