Host tissue determinants of tumour immunity

Although common evolutionary principles drive the growth of cancer cells regardless of the tissue of origin, the microenvironment in which tumours arise substantially differs across various organ sites. Recent studies have established that, in addition to cell-intrinsic effects, tumour growth regulation also depends on local cues driven by tissue environmental factors. In this Review, we discuss how tissue-specific determinants might influence tumour development and argue that unravelling the tissue-specific contribution to tumour immunity should help the development of precise immunotherapeutic strategies for patients with cancer. In addition to cancer cell-intrinsic effects, tumour growth can be regulated by cellular and molecular cues from the local tissue environment. This Review discusses how differences in cellular components and composition between tissue sites may influence the antitumour immune response, with potential implications for the design of therapeutic strategies.