Title:The Tumor Immune Microenvironment plays a Key Role in Driving the
Progression of Cholangiocarcinoma
Volume: 24
Issue: 7
Author(s): Ye Zhang, Hai-jiao Yan*Jun Wu*
Affiliation:
- Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 185 Juqian St, Changzhou, 213003,
China
- Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 185 Juqian St, Changzhou, 213003,
China
Keywords:
Cholangiocarcinoma, tumor immune microenvironment, immune cells, mesenchymal cells, prognostic markers, metabolism.
Abstract: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an epithelial cancer distinguished by bile duct cell differentiation
and is also a fibroproliferative tumor. It is characterized by a dense mesenchyme and a
complex tumor immune microenvironment (TME). The TME comprises both cellular and non-cellular
components. The celluar component includes CCA cells, immune cells and mesenchymal
cells represented by the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), while the non-cellular component is
represented by mesenchymal elements such as the extracellular matrix (ECM). Recent studies
have demonstrated the important role of the TME in the development, progression, and treatment
resistance of CCA. These cell-associated prognostic markers as well as intercellular connections,
may serve as potential therapeutic targets and could inspire new treatment approaches for CCA in
the future. This paper aims to summarize the current understanding of CCA's immune microenvironment,
focusing on immune cells, mesenchymal cells, ECM, intercellular interactions, and
metabolism within the microenvironment.