Fig. 4
Role of Cytokines/chemokines in pre-metastatic niche formation
Primary tumors establish a conducive microenvironment for eventual metastasis in secondary organs and tissue sites. A dynamic interplay between TDSFs, BMDCs, regulatory / suppressive immune cells, and stromal components in primary tumors provides an effective niche microenvironment for the tumor cells’ proliferation and metastasis. The specialized microenvironment dispels significant characteristic features that facilitate metastasis, such as inflammation, immunosuppression, ECM remodeling, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis.