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Isolation of Normal and Cancer-associated Fibroblasts from Fresh Tissues by Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting FACS
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[Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts: Heterogeneity and Bimodality in Oncogenesis]
N A Lunina1,2, D R Safina1, S V Kostrov1
1National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, 123182 Russia.
Molekuliarnaia Biologiia
|September 27, 2023
Summary
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a dual role in cancer, promoting growth and invasion while sometimes inhibiting tumors. Understanding this functional heterogeneity is key for new cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Tumor Microenvironment Research
Context:
- Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key cellular components of the tumor microenvironment (TME).
- CAFs influence tumor progression, invasion, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance.
- Despite their prevalence, clinical trials targeting CAFs have yielded limited success.
Purpose:
- To review the functional heterogeneity and dual role of CAFs in tumor development.
- To explore the tumor-promoting and tumor-inhibiting activities of CAFs.
- To highlight the need for a nuanced understanding of CAF functions.
Summary:
- CAFs exhibit significant functional heterogeneity, acting as both promoters and inhibitors of tumor development.
- Their contribution to cancer progression, including growth, invasion, and metastasis, is complex.
- Evidence suggests CAFs can also suppress tumor growth, challenging their universal role in promoting cancer.
Impact:
- Understanding CAF bimodality can lead to novel diagnostic strategies.
- Targeting specific CAF functions, rather than CAFs broadly, may improve therapeutic outcomes.
- This review provides insights for developing more effective cancer treatment approaches.
Keywords:
cancer-associated fibroblastsheterogeneitymarkersmetastasisoncogenesistumor microenvironmenttumor stromaMore Related Videos
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