Tumor Ecosystem: An Ecological View of Cancer Growth and Survival

This book introduces the concept of onco-spheres, which are self-sustainable cancer ecosystems that interact with nontumor cellular and noncellular components in the host internal environment. It proposes a full-scale overview of the tumor ecosystem to inform therapeutic strategies and pave the way for novel research.

Format: Hardback
Length: 701 pages
Publication date: 21 July 2023
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This book aims to introduce the novel concept of onco-spheres in the cancer ecosystem. Onco-spheres are defined as dynamic interactions between cancer cells (living organisms) and nontumor cellular (other living organisms) and noncellular components (non-living environmental factors) in the host internal environment (habitat). These onco-spheres can be categorized at three different levels: primary/regional, distal, and systemic. Cancer cells should be viewed as living organisms that interact with cellular and noncellular components in the host internal environment, not just with the local tumor microenvironment (TME) but also with distant organ niches and the host's nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. By examining the interaction of cancer and host as a unique ecosystem, we can use ecology principles to further elucidate the features of the dynamics of the tumor ecosystem. As pioneers in proposing this concept, we believe that this comprehensive overview of the tumor ecosystem will provide valuable insights to readers and pave the way for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting actionable targets within the tumor ecosystem. This book is likely to be of interest to immunologists, biologists, medical students, researchers, and the general public who wish to learn more about this new concept of the tumor ecosystem and its potential applications in various fields of research.

Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789819911820
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023