Figure 1.

Schematic of the inflammatory tumor microenvironment. Inflammatory cells produce inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, chemokines, and tissue remodeling enzymes, which in turn amplify and perpetuate the inflammatory cascade. Extracellular matrix (ECM) components serve as a structural scaffold for inflammatory cell infiltration as well as a reservoir for cytokines and growth factors. Enzymatic degradation of ECM components generates bioactive fragments that play key roles in controlling inflammatory processes. Tenascin-C, biglycan, versican, and hyaluronan initiate toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated innate immune responses.