Cell biology

Metastasis

Immunosurveillance

Biology

Stem cell

Cancer research

Tumour heterogeneity

Cancer stem cell

Immunology

Genetics

Physics

Immune system

Optics

Tumor microenvironment

Crosstalk

Cell

Cancer

Nature reviews. Cancer

Cellular heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment are independent yet synergistic drivers of tumour progression and underlie therapeutic resistance. Recent studies have highlighted the complex interaction between these cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic mechanisms. The reciprocal communication between cancer stem cells (CSCs) and infiltrating immune cell populations in the tumour microenvironment is a paradigm for these interactions. In this Perspective, we discuss the signalling programmes that simultaneously induce CSCs and reprogramme the immune response to facilitate tumour immune evasion, metastasis and recurrence. We further highlight biological factors that can impact the nature of CSC–immune cell communication. Finally, we discuss targeting opportunities for simultaneous regulation of the CSC niche and immunosurveillance.

Cancer stem cell–immune cell crosstalk in tumour progression