Stromal Fibroblasts in Cancer Initiation and Progression

Overview

Journal Nature

Specialty Science

Date 2004 Nov 19

PMID 15549095

Citations 1054

Authors

Neil A Bhowmick

Eric G Neilson

Harold L Moses

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

It is widely accepted that the development of carcinoma--the most common form of human cancer--is due to the accumulation of somatic mutations in epithelial cells. The behaviour of carcinomas is also influenced by the tumour microenvironment, which includes extracellular matrix, blood vasculature, inflammatory cells and fibroblasts. Recent studies reveal that fibroblasts have a more profound influence on the development and progression of carcinomas than was previously appreciated. These new findings have important therapeutic implications.

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