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Updated: Jul 17, 2025

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

Published on: December 22, 2020

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Potential mechanisms of cancer-associated fibroblasts in therapeutic resistance

Zehua Zhao1, Tianming Li1, Liping Sun2

  • 1Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University), Shenyang, China.

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie
|September 3, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Cancer drug resistance persists due to tumor microenvironment interactions. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promote cancer cell survival against therapies, highlighting their role in treatment failure.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Tumor Microenvironment Research

Background:

  • Cancer drug resistance remains a significant obstacle to effective treatment and eradication.
  • Research has traditionally focused on tumor cells, but the tumor microenvironment's role is increasingly recognized.
  • Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key cellular components within the tumor microenvironment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and summarize the current understanding of cancer-associated fibroblasts' (CAFs) involvement in tumor drug resistance.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms of cross-talk between CAFs and cancer cells that contribute to therapeutic resistance.
  • To highlight the importance of CAFs in developing novel anticancer strategies.

Main Methods:

  • This study is a comprehensive literature review.
  • It synthesizes existing research on CAFs and their impact on drug resistance.
  • The review focuses on the interactions between CAFs and cancer cells.

Main Results:

  • CAFs actively contribute to the development of drug resistance in various cancers.
  • CAFs support cancer cell survival and proliferation in the presence of anticancer drugs.
  • The cross-talk between CAFs and cancer cells is a critical factor in treatment failure.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the role of CAFs in drug resistance is crucial for advancing cancer therapy.
  • Targeting CAF-cancer cell interactions may offer new therapeutic avenues.
  • Further research into these mechanisms can guide the development of more effective anticancer strategies.
Keywords:
Cancer-associated fibroblastsDrug resistance

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