All in the Stroma: Cancer's Cosa Nostra

Tumor environment contains many different cells like fibroblasts, inflammatory immune cells such as macrophages, smooth muscle and endothelial cells of the blood vessels, all imbedded in extracellular matrix that fibroblasts produce. Tumor microenvironment influences cancer development and treatment targeting this can reduce the risk of cancer invasion. Transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) is a protein best known to suppress tumor growth.