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Zheng J, Hao H. The importance of cancer-associated fibroblasts in targeted therapies and drug resistance in breast cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 13:1333839. [PMID: 38273859 PMCID: PMC10810416 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1333839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a substantial role in the tumor microenvironment, exhibiting a strong association with the advancement of various types of cancer, including breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. CAFs represent the most abundant mesenchymal cell population in breast cancer. Through diverse mechanisms, including the release of cytokines and exosomes, CAFs contribute to the progression of breast cancer by influencing tumor energy metabolism, promoting angiogenesis, impairing immune cell function, and remodeling the extracellular matrix. Moreover, CAFs considerably impact the response to treatment in breast cancer. Consequently, the development of interventions targeting CAFs has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach in the management of breast cancer. This article provides an analysis of the role of CAFs in breast cancer, specifically in relation to diagnosis, treatment, drug resistance, and prognosis. The paper succinctly outlines the diverse mechanisms through which CAFs contribute to the malignant behavior of breast cancer cells, including proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. Furthermore, the article emphasizes the potential of CAFs as valuable tools for early diagnosis, targeted therapy, treatment resistance, and prognosis assessment in breast cancer, thereby offering novel approaches for targeted therapy and overcoming treatment resistance in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hua Hao
- Department of Pathology, Yangpu Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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Chen B, Chan WN, Xie F, Mui CW, Liu X, Cheung AHK, Lung RWM, Chow C, Zhang Z, Fang C, Yu P, Shi S, Zhou S, Chen G, Wang Z, Wang S, Ding X, Huang B, Liang L, Dong Y, Wong CC, Wu WKK, Cheng ASL, Wong N, Yu J, Lo KW, Tse GMK, Kang W, To KF. The molecular classification of cancer-associated fibroblasts on a pan-cancer single-cell transcriptional atlas. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1516. [PMID: 38148640 PMCID: PMC10751516 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), integral to the tumour microenvironment, are pivotal in cancer progression, exhibiting either pro-tumourigenic or anti-tumourigenic functions. Their inherent phenotypic and functional diversity allows for the subdivision of CAFs into various subpopulations. While several classification systems have been suggested for different cancer types, a unified molecular classification of CAFs on a single-cell pan-cancer scale has yet to be established. METHODS We employed a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic atlas encompassing 12 solid tumour types. Our objective was to establish a novel molecular classification and to elucidate the evolutionary trajectories of CAFs. We investigated the functional profiles of each CAF subtype using Single-Cell Regulatory Network Inference and Clustering and single-cell gene set enrichment analysis. The clinical relevance of these subtypes was assessed through survival curve analysis. Concurrently, we employed multiplex immunofluorescence staining on tumour tissues to determine the dynamic changes of CAF subtypes across different tumour stages. Additionally, we identified the small molecule procyanidin C1 (PCC1) as a target for matrix-producing CAF (matCAF) using molecular docking techniques and further validated these findings through in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULTS In our investigation of solid tumours, we identified four molecular clusters of CAFs: progenitor CAF (proCAF), inflammatory CAF (iCAF), myofibroblastic CAF (myCAF) and matCAF, each characterised by distinct molecular traits. This classification was consistently applicable across all nine studied solid tumour types. These CAF subtypes displayed unique evolutionary pathways, functional roles and clinical relevance in various solid tumours. Notably, the matCAF subtype was associated with poorer prognoses in several cancer types. The targeting of matCAF using the identified small molecule, PCC1, demonstrated promising antitumour activity. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, the various subtypes of CAFs, particularly matCAF, are crucial in the initiation and progression of cancer. Focusing therapeutic strategies on targeting matCAF in solid tumours holds significant potential for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonan Chen
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wai Nok Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fuda Xie
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chun Wai Mui
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Alvin H K Cheung
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Raymond W M Lung
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chit Chow
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhenhua Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Canbin Fang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Peiyao Yu
- Department of Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Nanfang Hospital and Basic Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shihua Shi
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Shikun Zhou
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guoming Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhangding Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Shouyu Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaofan Ding
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Bing Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Liang
- Department of Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Nanfang Hospital and Basic Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yujuan Dong
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Chun Wong
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - William K K Wu
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Alfred S L Cheng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nathalie Wong
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwok Wai Lo
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gary M K Tse
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Kang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ka Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
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Guerrero-Rodríguez SL, Mata-Cruz C, Pérez-Tapia SM, Velasco-Velázquez MA. Role of CD36 in cancer progression, stemness, and targeting. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1079076. [PMID: 36568966 PMCID: PMC9772993 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1079076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
CD36 is highly expressed in diverse tumor types and its expression correlates with advanced stages, poor prognosis, and reduced survival. In cancer cells, CD36: 1) increases fatty acid uptake, reprogramming lipid metabolism; 2) favors cancer cell proliferation, and 3) promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, CD36 expression correlates with the expression of cancer stem cell markers and CD36+ cancer cells display increased stemness functional properties, including clonogenicity, chemo- and radioresistance, and metastasis-initiating capability, suggesting CD36 is a marker of the cancer stem cell population. Thus, CD36 has been pointed as a potential therapeutic target in cancer. At present, at least three different types of molecules have been developed for reducing CD36-mediated functions: blocking monoclonal antibodies, small-molecule inhibitors, and compounds that knock-down CD36 expression. Herein, we review the role of CD36 in cancer progression, its participation in stemness control, as well as the efficacy of reported CD36 inhibitors in cancer cell cultures and animal models. Overall, the evidence compiled points that CD36 is a valid target for the development of new anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cecilia Mata-Cruz
- Pharmacology Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico,Graduate Program in Biochemical Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sonia M. Pérez-Tapia
- Research and Development in Biotherapeutics Unit, National School of Biological Sciences, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City, Mexico,National Laboratory for Specialized Services of Investigation Development and Innovation (I+D+i) for Pharma Chemicals and Biotechnological products LANSEIDI-FarBiotec-CONACyT, Mexico City, Mexico,Immunology Department, National School of Biological Sciences, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Marco A. Velasco-Velázquez
- Pharmacology Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico,*Correspondence: Marco A. Velasco-Velázquez,
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