Cited by 51Cancer Cells and MetastasisPancreatic and Hepatic Oncology ResearchTGF-β signaling in diseases

The Versatile Roles of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Colorectal Cancer and Therapeutic Implications

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Deng, Longfei, Jiang, Nianfen, Zeng, Jun, Wang, Yi, Cui, Hongjuan·2021·Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is populated by abundant cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that radically influence the disease progression across many cancers, including the colorectal cancer (CRC). In theory, targeting CAFs holds great potential in optimizing CRC treatment. However, attempts to translate the therapeutic benefit of CAFs into clinic practice face many obstacles, largely due to our limited understanding of the heterogeneity in their origins, functions, and mechanisms. In recent years, accumulating evidence has uncovered some cellular precursors and molecular markers of CAFs and also revealed their versatility in impacting various hallmarks of CRC, together helping us to better define the population of CAFs and also paving the way toward their future therapeutic targeting for CRC treatment. In this review, we outline the emerging concept of CAFs in CRC, with an emphasis on their origins, biomarkers, prognostic significance, as well as their functional roles and underlying mechanisms in CRC biology. At last, we discuss the prospect of harnessing CAFs as promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of patients with CRC.

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Crossref · 10.3389/fcell.2021.733270

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  • Different therapeutic approaches are currently being investigated for their potential to specifically target CAFs, including a variety of inhibitors, agonists, and neutralizing antibodies that interfere with different molecules or signaling pathways that contribute to the supportive role of CAFs in the TME.

    “Different therapeutic approaches are currently being investigated for their potential to specifically target CAFs, including a variety of inhibitors, agonists, and neutralizing antibodies that interfere with different molecules or signaling pathways that contribute to the supportive role of CAFs in the TME [224].”

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Authors
Deng, L., Jiang, N., Zeng, J., Wang, Y., & Cui, H.
Affiliations
  • Southwest University (CN)
  • Chongqing Normal University (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Wang, Yi
  • Cui, Hongjuan
Venue
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Published
2021-10-01
Volume
9
Pages
733270-733270
ISSN
2296-634X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3202095248
Cited by
51
References
159
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 12
FWCI
1.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (81872071)
  • Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (cstc2019jcyj, cstc2019jcyj-zdxmX0033, cstc2018jcyjAX0573)
  • Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (SWU120054, 81872071, cstc2019jcyj-zdxmX0033)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Cells and Metastasis
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › TGF-β signaling in diseases
Keywords
cancer-associated fibroblasts, colorectal cancer, tumor microenvironment, CAF origin, prognostic value, CAF-targeted therapy, tumor progression

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