A framework for advancing our understanding of cancer-associated fibroblasts

2020/01/24 by Erik Sahai, Igor Astsaturov, Edna Cukierman +26 · 37 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Immunology and Microbiology · Medicine · #Cancer Cells and Metastasis #Epigenetics and DNA Methylation #Immune cells in cancer

paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/s41568-019-0238-1

openalex publication_date 2020/01/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

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.

Citations

• Spatial and Single-Cell Transcriptional Profiling Identifies Functionally Distinct Human Dermal Fibroblast Subpopulations
• Bone marrow–derived fibroblasts are a functionally distinct stromal cell population in breast cancer

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