Cancer-associated Fibroblasts Connect Metastasis-promoting Communication in Colorectal Cancer

Overview

Journal Front Oncol

Specialty Oncology

Date 2015 Apr 9

PMID 25853091

Citations 98

Authors

Joke Tommelein

Laurine Verset

Tom Boterberg

Pieter Demetter

Marc Bracke

Olivier de Wever

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and eventually metastasis is directed in many aspects by a circuitous ecosystem consisting of an extracellular matrix scaffold populated by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells, and diverse immune cells. CAFs are recruited from local tissue-resident fibroblasts or pericryptal fibroblasts and distant fibroblast precursors. CAFs are highly abundant in CRC. In this review, we apply the metastasis-promoting communication of colorectal CAFs to 10 cancer hallmarks described by Hanahan and Weinberg. CAFs influence innate and adaptive tumor immune responses. Using datasets from previously published work, we re-explore the potential messages implicated in this process. Fibroblasts present in metastasis (metastasis-associated fibroblasts) from CRC may have other characteristics and functional roles than CAFs in the primary tumor. Since CAFs connect metastasis-promoting communication, CAF markers are potential prognostic biomarkers. CAFs and their products are possible targets for novel therapeutic strategies.

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