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Updated: Jan 18, 2026
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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
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Cancer-associated fibroblasts as a potential therapeutic target for thyroid cancers
Kashmira Chakraborty1, Ramya Lakshmi Rajendran2,3,4, Shristy Kothiwal5
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India.
International Journal of Surgery (London, England)
|September 8, 2025
Summary
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) drive thyroid cancer progression by altering the tumor microenvironment. Targeting CAFs offers a promising therapeutic strategy for improving treatment outcomes in thyroid cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Endocrinology
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Thyroid cancer is a common endocrine malignancy.
- The tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly influences thyroid cancer progression.
- Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key players in the TME, promoting tumor growth and metastasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the multifaceted contributions of CAFs to thyroid cancer.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of targeting CAFs in thyroid cancer treatment.
- To highlight challenges and future directions in CAF-directed therapies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies on CAFs in thyroid cancer.
- Analysis of CAF origin, activation, and functional roles.
- Evaluation of various therapeutic strategies targeting CAFs.
Main Results:
- CAFs promote thyroid cancer progression via cytokine secretion, ECM stiffening, angiogenesis, and EMT.
- CAF inhibition in preclinical models reduced tumor burden and improved drug sensitivity.
- Emerging clinical trials show promise for CAF-directed agents.
Conclusions:
- CAFs represent a novel therapeutic frontier for thyroid cancers.
- Targeting CAFs can disrupt pro-tumorigenic mechanisms and enhance treatment efficacy.
- Further research on biomarkers and treatment sequencing is crucial for clinical translation.
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