Cancer-associated fibroblasts as target and tool in cancer therapeutics and diagnostics

E De Vlieghere, L Verset, P Demetter, M Bracke… - Virchows Archiv, 2015 - Springer
E De Vlieghere, L Verset, P Demetter, M Bracke, O De Wever
Virchows Archiv, 2015Springer
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are drivers of tumour progression and are considered
as a target and a tool in cancer diagnostic and therapeutic applications. An increased
abundance of CAFs or CAF signatures are recognized as a bad prognostic marker in
several cancer types. Tumour-environment biomimetics strongly improve our understanding
of the communication between CAFs, cancer cells and other host cells. Several
experimental drugs targeting CAFs are in clinical trials for multiple tumour entities; …
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are drivers of tumour progression and are considered as a target and a tool in cancer diagnostic and therapeutic applications. An increased abundance of CAFs or CAF signatures are recognized as a bad prognostic marker in several cancer types. Tumour-environment biomimetics strongly improve our understanding of the communication between CAFs, cancer cells and other host cells. Several experimental drugs targeting CAFs are in clinical trials for multiple tumour entities; alternatively, CAFs can be exploited as a tool to characterize the functionality of circulating tumour cells or to capture them as a tool to prevent metastasis. The continuous interaction between tissue engineers, biomaterial experts and cancer researchers creates the possibility to biomimic the tumour-environment and provides new opportunities in cancer diagnostics and management.
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