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Updated: Jan 9, 2026
09:01
Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from Mouse Mammary Tumors as Tools for Molecular and Computational Studies
Published on: July 3, 2025
817
Cancer-associated fibroblasts: Recent advances and therapeutic implications
Christina Paraskeva1, Athanasia Stavropoulou2, Vasiliki Koliaraki1
1Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Center 'Alexander Fleming', Vari, Greece.
Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|December 2, 2025
Summary
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) exhibit significant heterogeneity. Understanding CAF subpopulations is key to developing novel cancer therapies targeting stromal complexity and resistance.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- The tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for cancer progression.
- Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are abundant and influential stromal cells.
- CAF functional heterogeneity impacts tumor initiation, metastasis, and therapy resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current understanding of CAF biology and heterogeneity.
- To highlight recent discoveries in CAF spatial organization, dynamics, and immune functions.
- To discuss emerging therapeutic strategies targeting CAF subpopulations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing recent advances.
- Integration of single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics data.
- Mechanistic studies on CAF roles in cancer.
Main Results:
- CAFs display significant functional heterogeneity with distinct subpopulations.
- CAF subpopulations have specialized roles in tumor promotion, immune modulation, and therapy resistance.
- Recent advances reveal CAF spatial organization and temporal dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Understanding CAF heterogeneity is crucial for cancer treatment.
- Targeting specific CAF subpopulations offers new therapeutic opportunities.
- Developing effective cancer therapies requires accounting for stromal complexity and CAF-mediated resistance.
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