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Cancer

Tumours build their niche

Nature volume 545, pages 292–293 (2017)Cite this article

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It emerges that tumour cells can give rise to non-dividing cells that form part of the supporting microenvironment known as the niche. These niche cells secrete proteins that drive tumour growth and progression. See Letters p.355 & p.360

The development of a tumour resembles, in some aspects, the development of a multicellular organism, except that the coordination of events such as cell division, cell-fate determination and tissue organization is dysregulated. The signalling pathways and cells that drive tumour growth and the formation of different cell types within a tumour (tumour heterogeneity) are poorly understood. In two papers, Tammela et al.1 (page 355) and Lim et al.2 (page 360) investigate lung tumours, and make a surprising discovery about how some tumour cells drive cancer development.

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Figure 1: Tumour cells and their niche.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK

    Meritxell Huch & Emma L. Rawlins

  2. Wellcome Trust – Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge

    Meritxell Huch & Emma L. Rawlins

Authors
  1. Meritxell Huch
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  2. Emma L. Rawlins
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Correspondence to Meritxell Huch or Emma L. Rawlins.

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Huch, M., Rawlins, E. Tumours build their niche. Nature 545, 292–293 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature22494

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