Fibroblasts in cancer: Unity in heterogeneity

Yash Chhabra; Ashani T Weeraratna

doi:10.1016/j.cell.2023.03.016

Fibroblasts in cancer: Unity in heterogeneity

Cell. 2023 Apr 13;186(8):1580-1609. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.03.016.

Authors

Yash Chhabra¹, Ashani T Weeraratna²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: ychhabr1@jhmi.edu.
² Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: aweerar1@jhu.edu.

Abstract

Tumor cells do not exist in isolation in vivo, and carcinogenesis depends on the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), composed of a myriad of cell types and biophysical and biochemical components. Fibroblasts are integral in maintaining tissue homeostasis. However, even before a tumor develops, pro-tumorigenic fibroblasts in close proximity can provide the fertile 'soil' to the cancer 'seed' and are known as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). In response to intrinsic and extrinsic stressors, CAFs reorganize the TME enabling metastasis, therapeutic resistance, dormancy and reactivation by secreting cellular and acellular factors. In this review, we summarize the recent discoveries on CAF-mediated cancer progression with a particular focus on fibroblast heterogeneity and plasticity.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts* / metabolism
Carcinogenesis
Humans
Neoplasms* / pathology
Tumor Microenvironment / physiology

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

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