Tumor Microenvironment: Cellular Interactions and Pathological Implications

This chapter offers a detailed examination of the complex cellular ecosystem within the tumor microenvironment, including cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and the extracellular matrix. It reviews current understanding of how these components collectively promote immune evasion, angiogenesis, and metastatic progression, integrating insights from spatial transcriptomics and multiplex immunohistochemistry. The chapter further discusses how pathological characterization of the tumor microenvironment informs immunotherapy response prediction and shapes emerging therapeutic strategies.