Discussion

Tumors grow in a complex microenvironment where the location, the density and the functional orientation of infiltrating inflammatory and immune cells form the immune contexture which strongly influences clinical outcome and represents a major target for immunotherapies. Thus, a Th1/cytotoxic orientation and a high density of Tertiary lymphoid Structures are prominent prognostic markers. Recent data revealed that the immune contexture influences outcome, not only in primary, but also in metastatic sites, that it is likely shaped by the malignant cells and that its clinical impact depends of tumoral cell biology. Integrating these interactions opens novel therapeutic avenues.