The Dysregulation of the Secretome in the Tumor Microenvironment: A Potential Source for Biomarker Discovery and Personalized Cancer Treatment

The cancer secretome includes all proteins released by cancer cells and the components of the tumor microenvironment. Dysregulation of secretome emerged as a major contributor to cancer initiation and progression. Cancer cells and stromal cells communicate through different secretory pathways and work together to promote tumor growth. Understanding how this tumor-stroma crosstalk drives cancer development and studying changes in the secretome can help identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Considering the challenges in diagnosing several cancer types in the early stages and providing personalized treatment, it is crucial to thoroughly study cancer processes and their key players to develop effective biomarkers and targeted treatments.