Cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment: heterogeneity, crosstalk mechanisms, and therapeutic implications

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is increasingly recognized as a critical modulator of the initiation, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance of various cancers. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the predominant stromal cell population within the TME, play pivotal roles in these processes through their remarkable phenotypic and functional heterogeneity. Emerging evidence underscores the diversity in the origins, phenotypes, and functions of CAFs, highlighting their ability to adaptively influence tumor biology in a context-dependent manner. CAFs facilitate cancer malignancy via multiple interconnected mechanisms, including the secretion of soluble bioactive factors, the release of exosomes, the metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells, the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and the modulation of the immune microenvironment. CAFs have emerged as attractive and viable therapeutic targets. Recent efforts have focused on developing therapies that disrupt the protumorigenic activities of CAFs or reprogram them toward tumor-suppressive phenotypes. Several of these strategies have shown promise and are advancing into clinical trials. In this review, we comprehensively discuss recent advancements in our understanding of the heterogeneity of CAFs, elucidate their multifaceted interactions within the TME, and explore novel therapeutic strategies targeting CAFs a

Evidence level

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.