Figure 1.

Tumor microenvironment components. A) Schematic illustration of tumor microenvironment and B) its components and characteristics. The tumor microenvironment is a highly complex realm where tumor cells are surrounded by stromal cells (fibroblasts, adipocytes, endothelial cells and pericytes) and immune cells within ECM. Tumor microenvironment characteristics that contribute to tumorigenesis, tumor progression and metastasis include altered expression of ECM and ECM‐associated proteins (matrisome), interactions of cell‐cell and cell‐matrix, nutrient availability, and gradient of metabolic waste, pH and oxygen (O2).