RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Tumor Interstitial Fluid as Modulator of Cancer Inflammation, Thrombosis, Immunity and Angiogenesis JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 405 OP 414 VO 32 IS 2 A1 GIANFRANCO BARONZIO A1 LAURENT SCHWARTZ A1 MIKHAIL KISELEVSKY A1 ADELINE GUAIS A1 EDWARD SANDERS A1 GLORIA MILANESI A1 MIRIAM BARONZIO A1 ISABEL FREITAS YR 2012 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/32/2/405.abstract AB Tumor interstitial fluid (TIF) is a watery phase that accumulates inside the tumor interstitium. Its genesis and fate depend on various factors, namely tumor type, metabolic state of the tumor, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, and absence of lymphatic system. For almost 30 years TIF remained a neglected entity until it was demonstrated that TIF, and in particular its high pressure, constitutes an important obstacle to drug delivery and immunotherapy. The present review not only summarizes the abundant literature on the processes of TIF genesis and on its effects on therapy but it also presents data that, in our opinion, point towards what is perhaps the real physiological purpose of TIF: a primitive means of providing nourishment, oxygen, cytokines and matrikines to tumor cells that furthermore promotes the invasion of the normal surrounding tissue and passive metastatization through lymphatics. It is also an inducer of inflammation through increased osmolarity due to albumin loss. Recently, a role for TIF as a possible source of biomarkers has also been suggested.