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Updated: Jan 18, 2026

A Novel Stromal Fibroblast-Modulated 3D Tumor Spheroid Model for Studying Tumor-Stroma Interaction and Drug Discovery
Published on: February 28, 2020
Cancer-associated fibroblast-mediated immune evasion: molecular mechanisms of stromal-immune crosstalk in the tumor
Junling Luo1,2, Xuehua Xiang2,3, Guangyuan Gong2,4
1Department of Medical Laboratory, Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital Chongqing Hospital, Chongqing, China.
Abstract:
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex ecosystem and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are critical drivers of the immunosuppressive TME. The dynamic interactions between CAFs and immune cells play a crucial role in tumor progression and immune evasion. This review systematically investigates the interactions between CAFs and different immune cells and elaborates on the molecular mechanisms of CAF-mediated immune suppression, with a focus on their multifaceted interactions with various immune cell populations. The present study discusses how CAFs utilize cytokine networks, metabolic reprogramming and immune checkpoint regulation to establish an immunosuppressive TME. Clinical translation should prioritize FAP-directed therapies alongside αPD-1 to concurrently target CAF-immune crosstalk and metabolic competition in the TME.
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