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To understand how cancer develops and spreads, and to develop better therapies, it\u2019s critical to understand the tumor microenvironment, the immediate area around a tumor that \u201chelps generate a supportive niche for it to develop and grow.\u201d \n\nJohanna Joyce, PhD, joined the podcast to explain that the diverse normal cells around a tumor are enmeshed with cancer cells. They\u2019re integrated. They communicate and influence each other\u2019s functions. \n\nHer lab\u2019s goal is \u201cto try and either block this cellular conversation or redirect it towards a more constructive dialogue that helps fight the tumor and not support it.\u201d\n\nJohanna Joyce, PhD, is Professor at the University of Lausanne and Full Member of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.\n\n4:32 \u2013 What is the tumor microenvironment? \n\n6:00 \u2013 Why it\u2019s similar to the immense complexity of a forest\u2019s ecosystem\n\n8:19 \u2013 Do tumors somehow create or remodel their microenvironments? \n\n12:42 \u2013 \u201cThe tumor microenvironment can have a major impact on how a given cancer responds to therapy in a number of different ways\u2026\u201d\n\n18:23 \u2013 On the unique aspects of the tumor microenvironment in the brain\n\n22:02 \u2013 On her fantastic new study showing that different brain cancers have different microenvironments based on whether the tumors started in the brain or spread to the brain\n\n28:15 \u2013 Surprising findings from that study \u2013 the immense complexity and diversity of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment\n\n32:12 \u2013 How can we translate these findings to the clinic?\n\n36:22 \u2013 Why it\u2019s so important to understand how different lifestyles, diets, levels of activity, and environmental exposures impact patients\u2019 tumor microenvironments\n\n38:20 \u2013 The impact that American Cancer Society funding had on her career\n\n40:41 \u2013 Her message for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers