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Deciphering cancer complexity: perspective on hematopoietic remodeling-mediated immunosuppression

Oncogene volume 44, pages 1230–1233 (2025)Cite this article

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Cancer is a complex disease, and our understanding of it has evolved through three distinct stages. The initial stage focused on uncovering tumor cell molecular traits, culminating in Hanahan and Weinberg’s 2000 “Hallmarks of Cancer”, a conceptual framework linking diverse tumor types to common cellular characteristics [1]. The second stage leveraged technological advancements to explore the dynamic and spatial heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment (TME) at the single-cell level, demonstrating the communication between immune cells and tumor cells [2]. Insights from these stages have informed treatment strategies, including immunotherapy, benefiting some advanced tumor patients. However, few of these therapies are widely effective across diverse cancers, and sustained, long-term benefits remain rare.

The hematopoietic system comprises hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and stromal cells. As the apex of HSPCs, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) give rise to various progenitor cells, including multipotent progenitors (MPPs), common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs), granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (GMPs), and megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitors (MEPs), which subsequently differentiate into immune cells, platelets, and red blood cells [3]. Under physiological conditions, the hematopoietic system continuously produces blood cells to maintain homeostasis. However, in the context of tumors, hematopoiesis can be disrupted by both deficiency of essential hematopoietic substances and tumor invasion into the BM. Beyond traditional understanding, the direct impact of tumor-induced distant remodeling on HSPCs, along with the multi-organ coordination in regulating BM hematopoiesis, has garnered widespread attention.

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Fig. 1: Tumor remodel hematopoiesis to promote immunosuppression.

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There is no dataset generated or analyzed in this manuscript.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81925030 to BZ) and Outstanding Youth Science Foundation of Chongqing (no. 2022NSCQ-JQX3532 to HL). Figure 1 was created by Biorender.com.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Qian Liao, Zheng Jin.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Immunological Innovation and Translation, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China

    Qian Liao & Zheng Jin

  2. Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China

    Haixia Long & Bo Zhu

  3. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Chongqing, China

    Haixia Long & Bo Zhu

Authors
  1. Qian Liao
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  2. Zheng Jin
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  3. Haixia Long
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  4. Bo Zhu
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Contributions

HL and BZ participated to the conception and critical revision of the manuscript. QL and ZJ wrote the manuscript and prepared the figure in this manuscript. All authors have approved this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Haixia Long or Bo Zhu.

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Liao, Q., Jin, Z., Long, H. et al. Deciphering cancer complexity: perspective on hematopoietic remodeling-mediated immunosuppression. Oncogene 44, 1230–1233 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-025-03361-9

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