The role of tumour–stromal interactions in modifying drug response: challenges and opportunities

In recent years it has become apparent that the tumour microenvironment has a large effect on tumour cell signalling, proliferation, survival and, importantly, responses to drugs. Here, Mitsiades and colleagues discuss how these considerations can inform anticancer drug discovery and provide an overview of advances in preclinical models that allow better assessment of the impact of the tumour microenvironment on therapeutic efficacy.