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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Sep 11.
Published in final edited form as: Mod Pathol. 2017 Dec 1;31(2):214–234. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2017.156

Figure 1.

Figure 1

The immune contexture of a tumor dynamically shapes the tumor microenvironment in both a pro-tumorigenic and antitumorigenic manner. The antitumor immune milieu is characterized by an abundance of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and type 1 helper (Th1) T cells. Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), when present, support a local antitumor immune attack. Emerging evidence also suggests that plasma cells have a role in tumor containment and potential elimination by the immune system. The pro-tumorigenic immune milieu is characterized by regulatory T cells (Tregs), type 2 helper (Th2, not shown) T cells, and specific macrophage subsets. Tumor cells may also demonstrate immune-evasion strategies, for example, the display of immune checkpoint molecules. For many tumor types, the interaction of the tumor with the host immune system occurs at the invasive margin of the tumor or surrounding intratumoral blood vessels. The balance between the pro-tumorigenic and antitumorigenic factors affects tumor development and ultimately patient survival.