Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Microambiente tumoral
Tumor microenvironment (TOO-mer MY-kroh-en-VY-run-MENT)
The normal cells, molecules, and blood vessels that surround and feed a tumor cell. A tumor can change its microenvironment, and the microenvironment can affect how a tumor grows and spreads.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.