Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

An Automated Radiosynthesis of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 for Routine Clinical Use
10:33

An Automated Radiosynthesis of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 for Routine Clinical Use

Published on: May 24, 2024

Fibroblast activation protein: A potential therapeutic target in cancer

Rui Liu1, Hui Li, Liang Liu

  • 1Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Cancer Biology & Therapy
|January 13, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Targeting cancer stroma offers a novel therapeutic strategy. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a protease in tumor stroma, supports cancer growth and presents a promising target for new anticancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Protease Inhibitors

Background:

  • Targeting tumor stroma and its unique antigens is a promising strategy for cancer therapeutics.
  • Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is selectively expressed in cancer-associated stromal fibroblasts, not normal tissues.
  • FAP's proteolytic activity promotes tumor growth and proliferation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the clinical interest in identifying stromal targets for anticancer therapy.
  • To discuss the development of selective inhibitors for these stromal targets.
  • To present FAP as a potential target for novel anticancer therapies, including immune-based approaches.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on cancer stroma and FAP.
  • Analysis of FAP expression patterns in normal versus tumor tissues.
  • Evaluation of FAP's role in tumor growth and proliferation.

Main Results:

  • FAP is a serine protease found in the stroma of epithelial cancers.
  • FAP expression is significantly lower or undetectable in normal adult tissues.
  • FAP's proteolytic activity is implicated in supporting tumor growth.

Conclusions:

  • FAP is a clinically relevant target for anticancer drug development.
  • Selective inhibition of FAP may offer a novel therapeutic strategy.
  • FAP targeting, particularly via immune-based approaches, holds potential for cancer treatment.

More Related Videos

A Mouse Model to Investigate the Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth06:35

A Mouse Model to Investigate the Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth

Published on: December 22, 2020

Isolation of Primary Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from a Syngeneic Murine Model of Breast Cancer for the Study of Targeted Nanoparticles08:02

Isolation of Primary Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from a Syngeneic Murine Model of Breast Cancer for the Study of Targeted Nanoparticles

Published on: May 14, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Fibroblasts01:09

Introduction to Fibroblasts

Rudolph Virchow discovered spindle-shaped cells called fibroblasts in 1858. Inactive fibroblasts, called fibrocytes, become activated by various stimuli, such as growth factors and inflammatory cytokines. Activated fibroblasts play a crucial role in wound healing, inflammation, formation of new blood vessels, and cancer progression. Uncontrolled activation of fibroblasts results in fibrosis, the excess deposition of fibrous tissue, which can lead to scarring and affect normal organs. This...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors01:27

Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...