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Updated: Dec 2, 2025

A Mouse Model to Investigate the Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth
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Overcoming stromal barriers to immuno-oncological responses via fibroblast activation protein-targeted therapy

W Nathaniel Brennen1, Daniel L J Thorek2,3, Wen Jiang4

  • 1Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.

Immunotherapy
|November 5, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) fuels cancer progression by suppressing immunity and activating growth factors. Targeting FAP-expressing cells offers a promising strategy to enhance cancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly influences cancer progression.
  • Fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-expressing cells within the TME contribute to immune suppression.
  • Understanding FAP biology is crucial for developing effective cancer treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biology of FAP.
  • To present primary data on FAP expression in prostate cancer.
  • To summarize current and potential applications of targeting FAP in cancer diagnostics, monitoring, and therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on FAP biology and targeting strategies.
  • Analysis of primary data on FAP expression in prostate cancer.
  • Synthesis of information on FAP's role in TGF-β and VEGF activation.

Main Results:

  • FAP is expressed in prostate cancer and contributes to a positive feedback loop involving TGF-β and VEGF.
  • FAP-expressing cells subvert normal wound repair mechanisms for cancer pathophysiology.
  • Targeting FAP-positive cells may overcome stromal barriers to anti-cancer immune responses.

Conclusions:

  • FAP plays a critical role in promoting cancer progression and immune evasion.
  • Targeting FAP offers significant potential for cancer diagnostics, monitoring, and therapeutics.
  • Eliminating FAP-positive cells is a key strategy to enhance the efficacy of immuno-oncology.
Keywords:
FAPTGF-βfibroblast activation proteinimmunotherapyprostate cancerstromawound healing

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