Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Oral Cancer: A Current Perspective on Function and Potential for Therapeutic Targeting
The role of the tumour microenvironement (TME) in cancer progression and resistance to therapies is now widely recognized. The most prominent non-immune cell type in the microenvironment of oral cancer (OSCC) is cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). Although CAF are a poorly characterised and heterog...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Oral Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2021.686337/full |
| _version_ | 1819140972581224448 |
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| author | Kamila J. Bienkowska Christopher J. Hanley Gareth J. Thomas Gareth J. Thomas |
| author_facet | Kamila J. Bienkowska Christopher J. Hanley Gareth J. Thomas Gareth J. Thomas |
| author_sort | Kamila J. Bienkowska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The role of the tumour microenvironement (TME) in cancer progression and resistance to therapies is now widely recognized. The most prominent non-immune cell type in the microenvironment of oral cancer (OSCC) is cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). Although CAF are a poorly characterised and heterogenous cell population, those with an “activated” myofibroblastic phenotype have been shown to support OSCC progression, promoting growth, invasion and numerous other “hallmarks of malignancy.” CAF also confer broad resistance to different types of therapy, including chemo/radiotherapy and EGFR inhibitors; consistent with this, CAF-rich OSCC are associated with poor prognosis. In recent years, much CAF research has focused on their immunological role in the tumour microenvironment, showing that CAF shield tumours from immune attack through multiple mechanisms, and particularly on their role in promoting resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors, an exciting development for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic oral cancer, but which fails in most patients. This review summarises our current understanding of CAF subtypes and function in OSCC and discusses the potential for targeting these cells therapeutically. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:47:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f030270b1c4e43aa84ff12282de8864f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-4842 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:47:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oral Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f030270b1c4e43aa84ff12282de8864f2022-12-21T18:27:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oral Health2673-48422021-07-01210.3389/froh.2021.686337686337Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Oral Cancer: A Current Perspective on Function and Potential for Therapeutic TargetingKamila J. Bienkowska0Christopher J. Hanley1Gareth J. Thomas2Gareth J. Thomas3School of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United KingdomSchool of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United KingdomSchool of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United KingdomCancer Research UK and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Southampton Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, Southampton, United KingdomThe role of the tumour microenvironement (TME) in cancer progression and resistance to therapies is now widely recognized. The most prominent non-immune cell type in the microenvironment of oral cancer (OSCC) is cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). Although CAF are a poorly characterised and heterogenous cell population, those with an “activated” myofibroblastic phenotype have been shown to support OSCC progression, promoting growth, invasion and numerous other “hallmarks of malignancy.” CAF also confer broad resistance to different types of therapy, including chemo/radiotherapy and EGFR inhibitors; consistent with this, CAF-rich OSCC are associated with poor prognosis. In recent years, much CAF research has focused on their immunological role in the tumour microenvironment, showing that CAF shield tumours from immune attack through multiple mechanisms, and particularly on their role in promoting resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors, an exciting development for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic oral cancer, but which fails in most patients. This review summarises our current understanding of CAF subtypes and function in OSCC and discusses the potential for targeting these cells therapeutically.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2021.686337/fulloral cancerhead & neck squamous cell carcinomatumour microenvironmentcancer-associated fibroblastsmyofibroblasts |
| spellingShingle | Kamila J. Bienkowska Christopher J. Hanley Gareth J. Thomas Gareth J. Thomas Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Oral Cancer: A Current Perspective on Function and Potential for Therapeutic Targeting Frontiers in Oral Health oral cancer head & neck squamous cell carcinoma tumour microenvironment cancer-associated fibroblasts myofibroblasts |
| title | Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Oral Cancer: A Current Perspective on Function and Potential for Therapeutic Targeting |
| title_full | Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Oral Cancer: A Current Perspective on Function and Potential for Therapeutic Targeting |
| title_fullStr | Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Oral Cancer: A Current Perspective on Function and Potential for Therapeutic Targeting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Oral Cancer: A Current Perspective on Function and Potential for Therapeutic Targeting |
| title_short | Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Oral Cancer: A Current Perspective on Function and Potential for Therapeutic Targeting |
| title_sort | cancer associated fibroblasts in oral cancer a current perspective on function and potential for therapeutic targeting |
| topic | oral cancer head & neck squamous cell carcinoma tumour microenvironment cancer-associated fibroblasts myofibroblasts |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2021.686337/full |
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