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![Cancer resistance to immunotherapy: What is the role of cancer stem cells?](https://image.oaes.cc/1ffe0d17-4fe2-425d-b4cf-d7be8ea66bbe/5255.fig.1.jpg)
Figure 1. CSC-mediated immune escape and self-renewal. The tumor microenvironment is home to a lot of immune cells, which contribute to cancer cell survival and proliferation. The CSCs can self-renew themselves due to their stem-like properties and are also aided by different cytokines in the TME. Metabolic products from the CSCs, such as retinoic acid and lactate, are also involved in their self-renewal. Other immune cells in the TME, such as MDSCs, immature neutrophils, and TAMs, are also involved in tumor proliferation by dampening the cytotoxic effects of killer T cells and promoting regulatory T cells. CSCs: Cancer stem cells; TME: tumor microenvironment; TAMs: tumor-associated macrophages; CTL: cytotoxic T lymphocyte; Mac: macrophage; Mono: monocyte; Neu: neutrophil; DC: dendritic cells; Treg: regulatory T cell.