Targeting tumor-stroma crosstalk: the example of the NT157 inhibitor

Recent clinical research has provided evidence that cancer progression and therapy resistance is driven not only by tumor's genetic profile but also by complex paracrine interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The role of TME in modulating tumor drug sensitivity is increasingly recognized and targeting TME has been the focus of novel therapeutic approaches. Two recent reports show that a new anti-cancer drug, the inhibitor NT157 has the potential to inhibit IGF-1R and STAT3 signaling pathways in cancer cells and stroma cells of TME leading to a decrease in cancer cell survival.