Cancer ecosystems: A dynamic interplay across scales

A landmark review published in Cell by Quail and Joyce proposes a multi-scale framework for understanding cancer as a complex ecosystem rather than a collection of malignant cells acting in isolation. The authors describe how diverse cell populations within the tumor microenvironment form specialized niches that are continuously reshaped by systemic physiology, environmental factors, and treatment pressures. The framework argues that durable and curative outcomes in precision oncology will require reprogramming the cellular, vascular, and systemic networks that sustain disease, not merely targeting tumor cells directly. This conceptual shift could influence how researchers and clinicians design future therapeutic strategies across multiple cancer types.