Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity, Activation and Function: Implications for Prostate Cancer
The continuous remodeling of the tumor microenvironment (TME) during prostate tumorigenesis is emerging as a critical event that facilitates cancer growth, progression and drug-resistance. Recent advances have identified extensive communication networks that enable tumor–stroma cross-talk, and empha...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/1/67 |
| _version_ | 1797445546960486400 |
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| author | Jasmine S. Owen Aled Clayton Helen B. Pearson |
| author_facet | Jasmine S. Owen Aled Clayton Helen B. Pearson |
| author_sort | Jasmine S. Owen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The continuous remodeling of the tumor microenvironment (TME) during prostate tumorigenesis is emerging as a critical event that facilitates cancer growth, progression and drug-resistance. Recent advances have identified extensive communication networks that enable tumor–stroma cross-talk, and emphasized the functional importance of diverse, heterogeneous stromal fibroblast populations during malignant growth. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a vital component of the TME, which mediate key oncogenic events including angiogenesis, immunosuppression, metastatic progression and therapeutic resistance, thus presenting an attractive therapeutic target. Nevertheless, how fibroblast heterogeneity, recruitment, cell-of-origin and differential functions contribute to prostate cancer remains to be fully delineated. Developing our molecular understanding of these processes is fundamental to developing new therapies and biomarkers that can ultimately improve clinical outcomes. In this review, we explore the current challenges surrounding fibroblast identification, discuss new mechanistic insights into fibroblast functions during normal prostate tissue homeostasis and tumorigenesis, and illustrate the diverse nature of fibroblast recruitment and CAF generation. We also highlight the promise of CAF-targeted therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:27:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8d78acb7328c46aeaeec9a2dbb633f62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:27:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-8d78acb7328c46aeaeec9a2dbb633f622023-11-30T21:22:15ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2022-12-011316710.3390/biom13010067Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity, Activation and Function: Implications for Prostate CancerJasmine S. Owen0Aled Clayton1Helen B. Pearson2The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UKTissue Microenvironment Group, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKThe European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UKThe continuous remodeling of the tumor microenvironment (TME) during prostate tumorigenesis is emerging as a critical event that facilitates cancer growth, progression and drug-resistance. Recent advances have identified extensive communication networks that enable tumor–stroma cross-talk, and emphasized the functional importance of diverse, heterogeneous stromal fibroblast populations during malignant growth. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a vital component of the TME, which mediate key oncogenic events including angiogenesis, immunosuppression, metastatic progression and therapeutic resistance, thus presenting an attractive therapeutic target. Nevertheless, how fibroblast heterogeneity, recruitment, cell-of-origin and differential functions contribute to prostate cancer remains to be fully delineated. Developing our molecular understanding of these processes is fundamental to developing new therapies and biomarkers that can ultimately improve clinical outcomes. In this review, we explore the current challenges surrounding fibroblast identification, discuss new mechanistic insights into fibroblast functions during normal prostate tissue homeostasis and tumorigenesis, and illustrate the diverse nature of fibroblast recruitment and CAF generation. We also highlight the promise of CAF-targeted therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/1/67fibroblastprostate cancercancer-associated fibroblaststumor microenvironment |
| spellingShingle | Jasmine S. Owen Aled Clayton Helen B. Pearson Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity, Activation and Function: Implications for Prostate Cancer Biomolecules fibroblast prostate cancer cancer-associated fibroblasts tumor microenvironment |
| title | Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity, Activation and Function: Implications for Prostate Cancer |
| title_full | Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity, Activation and Function: Implications for Prostate Cancer |
| title_fullStr | Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity, Activation and Function: Implications for Prostate Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity, Activation and Function: Implications for Prostate Cancer |
| title_short | Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity, Activation and Function: Implications for Prostate Cancer |
| title_sort | cancer associated fibroblast heterogeneity activation and function implications for prostate cancer |
| topic | fibroblast prostate cancer cancer-associated fibroblasts tumor microenvironment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/1/67 |
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