Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 26, 2026

A Mouse Model to Investigate the Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth
06:35

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

Published on: December 22, 2020

5.2K

Drug targeting to myofibroblasts: Implications for fibrosis and cancer

Saleh Yazdani1, Ruchi Bansal1, Jai Prakash2

  • 1Targeted Therapeutics Division, Department of Biomaterials, Science and Technology, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.

Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
|July 20, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Myofibroblasts drive fibrosis and cancer progression. Targeting these cells offers new therapeutic strategies for incurable fibrotic diseases and cancer, addressing key challenges in drug development.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Pathology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Myofibroblasts are crucial for extracellular matrix remodeling in fibrotic diseases.
  • Myofibroblasts also play a significant role in tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis.
  • Targeting myofibroblasts is a promising strategy for treating fibrotic diseases and cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the origin, characteristics, and functions of myofibroblasts in liver, kidney, and lung fibrosis, as well as in cancer.
  • To discuss current drug targeting technologies for myofibroblasts in fibrotic organs and the tumor microenvironment.
  • To identify opportunities and challenges for developing novel diagnostics and therapeutics against fibrosis and cancer by targeting myofibroblasts.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of myofibroblast biology and therapeutic targeting strategies.
  • Analysis of myofibroblast roles in organ fibrosis (liver, kidneys, lungs) and cancer.
  • Evaluation of state-of-the-art drug targeting technologies.

Main Results:

  • Myofibroblasts are central to extracellular matrix remodeling in fibrotic diseases and contribute to cancer progression.
  • Diverse origins and functions of myofibroblasts across different organs and cancer types.
  • Current drug targeting technologies show potential but face challenges in efficacy and specificity.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding myofibroblast biology is key to developing effective anti-fibrotic and anti-cancer therapies.
  • Advanced drug targeting strategies are needed to overcome challenges in myofibroblast-specific therapies.
  • Further research is essential for novel diagnostics and therapeutics targeting myofibroblasts in fibrosis and cancer.
Keywords:
Drug targetingFibrosisMyofibroblastTumor microenvironment

More Related Videos

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

6.7K
Assessment of Mitochondrial Health in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Isolated from 3D Multicellular Lung Tumor Spheroids10:26

Assessment of Mitochondrial Health in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Isolated from 3D Multicellular Lung Tumor Spheroids

Published on: October 21, 2022

2.5K

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...
4.1K
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...
9.0K
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:
4.5K
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...
8.2K
Targets for Drug Action: Overview01:26

Targets for Drug Action: Overview

Drugs target macromolecules to modify ongoing cellular processes. Primary drug targets include receptors, ion channels, transporters, and enzymes.
Receptors are either membrane-spanning or intracellular proteins, which upon binding a ligand, get activated and transmit the signal downstream to elicit a response. Drugs bind receptors, either mimicking the action of endogenous ligands or blocking the receptor activity to bring about a modified response. Nearly 35% of approved drugs target the G...
10.8K
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...
5.3K