The area around a tumor, called the tumor microenvironment, makes it hard for cancer treatments that use the immune system to work. Here are some of the main problems:

1. Immune Suppression: Tumors can create a tough environment that stops immune cells from doing their jobs.

2. Stroma Interaction: The stroma, which is the supportive tissue around the tumor, can help it grow and keep cancer cells safe from treatments.

3. Heterogeneity: Since tumors can be very different from each other, it gets tricky to find effective treatments.

Solutions:

• Create therapy combinations that work better together.
• Focus on personalized medicine. This means adjusting treatments to fit the specific needs of each tumor’s environment.