What's new about the tumor microenvironment of urothelial carcinoma?

ABSTRACT

Urothelial carcinoma is a significant global health concern that accounts for a substantial part of cancer diagnoses and deaths worldwide. The tumor microenvironment is a complex ecosystem composed of stromal cells, soluble factors, and altered extracellular matrix, that mutually interact in a highly immunomodulated environment, with a prominent role in tumor development, progression, and treatment resistance. This article reviews the current state of knowledge of the different cell populations that compose the tumor microenvironment of urothelial carcinoma, its main functions, and distinct interactions with other cellular and non-cellular components, molecular alterations and aberrant signaling pathways already identified. It also focuses on the clinical implications of these findings, and its potential to translate into improved quality of life and overall survival. Determining new targets or defining prognostic signatures for urothelial carcinoma is an ongoing challenge that could be accelerated through a deeper understanding of the tumor microenvironment.