Nature reviews. Cancer· 2020Q1· Review
A framework for advancing our understanding of cancer-associated fibroblasts
- 3,825citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2020year
Short summary
A new consensus framework proposes standardized approaches to dissect the origin, heterogeneity, and functions of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to enable targeted cancer therapies.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- CAFs play diverse roles in the tumor microenvironment, including matrix remodeling and signaling with cancer cells and leukocytes.
- Modulating CAFs for cancer therapy is challenging due to limited understanding of their origin and functional heterogeneity.
- A key goal is to retain CAFs' antitumorigenic functions while targeting pro-tumorigenic ones.
- The proposed framework aims to standardize research efforts to better understand CAFs.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key component of the tumour microenvironment with diverse functions, including matrix deposition and remodelling, extensive reciprocal signalling interactions with cancer cells and crosstalk with infiltrating leukocytes. As such, they are a potential target for optimizing therapeutic strategies against cancer. However, many challenges are present in ongoing attempts to modulate CAFs for therapeutic benefit. These include limitations in our understanding of the origin of CAFs and heterogeneity in CAF function, with it being desirable to retain some antitumorigenic functions. On the basis of a meeting of experts in the field of CAF biology, we summarize in this Consensus Statement our current knowledge and present a framework for advancing our understanding of this critical cell type within the tumour microenvironment.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Nature reviews. Cancer, 2020 · DOI ↗
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Field: Oncology
OncologyMedicine