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Chen Y, Liang Z, Lai M. Targeting the devil: Strategies against cancer-associated fibroblasts in colorectal cancer. Transl Res 2024; 270:81-93. [PMID: 38614213 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as significant constituents of the tumor microenvironment (TME), play a pivotal role in the progression of cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). In this comprehensive review, we presented the origins and activation mechanisms of CAFs in CRC, elaborating on how CAFs drive tumor progression through their interactions with CRC cells, immune cells, vascular endothelial cells, and the extracellular matrix within the TME. We systematically outline the intricate web of interactions among CAFs, tumor cells, and other TME components, and based on this complex interplay, we summarize various therapeutic strategies designed to target CAFs in CRC. It is also essential to recognize that CAFs represent a highly heterogeneous group, encompassing various subtypes such as myofibroblastic CAF (myCAF), inflammatory CAF (iCAF), antigen-presenting CAF (apCAF), vessel-associated CAF (vCAF). Herein, we provide a summary of studies investigating the heterogeneity of CAFs in CRC and the characteristic expression patterns of each subtype. While the majority of CAFs contribute to the exacerbation of CRC malignancy, recent findings have revealed specific subtypes that exert inhibitory effects on CRC progression. Nevertheless, the comprehensive landscape of CAF heterogeneity still awaits exploration. We also highlight pivotal unanswered questions that need to be addressed before CAFs can be recognized as feasible targets for cancer treatment. In conclusion, the aim of our review is to elucidate the significance and challenges of advancing in-depth research on CAFs, while outlining the pathway to uncover the complex roles of CAFs in CRC and underscore their significant potential as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Chen
- Department of Pathology, and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Research Unit of Intelligence Classification of Tumor Pathology and Precision Therapy of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU042), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Department of Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Disease, Molecular Pathology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China; Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Zhiyong Liang
- Department of Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Disease, Molecular Pathology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Maode Lai
- Department of Pathology, and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Research Unit of Intelligence Classification of Tumor Pathology and Precision Therapy of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU042), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
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Ivković I, Limani Z, Jakovčević A, Huić D, Prgomet D. Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Inhibitors in Locally Invasive Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123178. [PMID: 36551933 PMCID: PMC9775144 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Locally invasive papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) protrudes beyond the thyroid capsule and invades local structures. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs) are implicated in local invasion and metastasis in PTC. The aim of our study was to determine expression levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in tissue specimens of invasive and non-invasive PTC. Our hypothesis was that expression levels of these biomarkers correlate with the development of locally invasive PTC. In our single-center study we retrospectively investigated MMP and TIMP expression levels in 50 samples of thyroid tissue diagnosed as locally invasive papillary carcinoma (study group) and 30 samples of thyroid tissue diagnosed as non-invasive, non-metastatic papillary carcinoma (control group). Tissue specimens were immunohistochemically stained with primary monoclonal antibodies against MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2. When correlating expression levels of MMPs and TIMPs in thyroid tissue, statistically significant differences were found for MMP-1 and TIMP-1 expression (p < 0.001; Mann−Whitney U test) with the highest levels of expression in the invasive PTC group. Although expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 was higher in invasive PTC, the differences were not statistically significant. Elevated expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in tumor tissue can predict invasiveness for PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Ivković
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, School of Medicine Zagreb, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Zgjim Limani
- Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, 10 000 Prishtina, Kosovo
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, 10 000 Prishtina, Kosovo
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +383-44-173-379
| | - Antonia Jakovčević
- Department of Pathology and Cytology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dražen Huić
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Protection, School of Medicine Zagreb, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Drago Prgomet
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, School of Medicine Zagreb, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Toledo B, Picon-Ruiz M, Marchal JA, Perán M. Dual Role of Fibroblasts Educated by Tumour in Cancer Behavior and Therapeutic Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:15576. [PMID: 36555218 PMCID: PMC9778751 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumours are complex systems with dynamic interactions between tumour cells, non-tumour cells, and extracellular components that comprise the tumour microenvironment (TME). The majority of TME's cells are cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are crucial in extracellular matrix (ECM) construction, tumour metabolism, immunology, adaptive chemoresistance, and tumour cell motility. CAF subtypes have been identified based on the expression of protein markers. CAFs may act as promoters or suppressors in tumour cells depending on a variety of factors, including cancer stage. Indeed, CAFs have been shown to promote tumour growth, survival and spread, and secretome changes, but they can also slow tumourigenesis at an early stage through mechanisms that are still poorly understood. Stromal-cancer interactions are governed by a variety of soluble factors that determine the outcome of the tumourigenic process. Cancer cells release factors that enhance the ability of fibroblasts to secrete multiple tumour-promoting chemokines, acting on malignant cells to promote proliferation, migration, and invasion. This crosstalk between CAFs and tumour cells has given new prominence to the stromal cells, from being considered as mere physical support to becoming key players in the tumour process. Here, we focus on the concept of cancer as a non-healing wound and the relevance of chronic inflammation to tumour initiation. In addition, we review CAFs heterogeneous origins and markers together with the potential therapeutic implications of CAFs "re-education" and/or targeting tumour progression inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Toledo
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain
| | - Manuel Picon-Ruiz
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, E-18100 Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria ibs. GRANADA, Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
- Excellence Research Unit “Modeling Nature” (MNat), University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Marchal
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, E-18100 Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria ibs. GRANADA, Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
- Excellence Research Unit “Modeling Nature” (MNat), University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Macarena Perán
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, E-18100 Granada, Spain
- Excellence Research Unit “Modeling Nature” (MNat), University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
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A CAF-Fueled TIMP-1/CD63/ITGB1/STAT3 Feedback Loop Promotes Migration and Growth of Breast Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14204983. [PMID: 36291767 PMCID: PMC9599197 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14204983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major cellular component of the tumor microenvironment and influence cancer cell behavior in numerous ways. A large part of their actions is based on their high secretory activity, leading to the exposure of cancer cells to all kinds of bioactive factors, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6). Here, we present data showing that CAF-derived TIMP-1 activates STAT3 in breast cancer cells in cooperation with CD63 and integrin β1. In turn, STAT3 increases TIMP-1 secretion by breast cancer cells, leading to a TIMP-1/CD63/integrin β1/STAT3 positive feedback loop, which can be further fueled by IL-6. Functionally, this feedback loop is important for the CAF-induced increase in migratory activity and for CAF-induced resistance to the anti-estrogen fulvestrant. Abstract TIMP-1 is one of the many factors that CAFs have been shown to secret. TIMP-1 can act in a tumor-supportive or tumor-suppressive manner. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of CAF-secreted TIMP-1 for the effects of CAFs on breast cancer cell behavior. Breast cancer cells were exposed to conditioned medium collected from TIMP-1-secreting CAFs (CAF-CM), and the specific effects of TIMP-1 on protein expression, migration and growth were examined using TIMP-1-specifc siRNA (siTIMP1), recombinant TIMP-1 protein (rhTIMP-1) and TIMP-1 level-rising phorbol ester. We observed that TIMP-1 increased the expression of its binding partner CD63 and induced STAT3 and ERK1/2 activation by cooperating with CD63 and integrin β1. Since TIMP-1 expression was found to be dependent on STAT3, TIMP-1 activated its own expression, resulting in a TIMP-1/CD63/integrin β1/STAT3 feedback loop. IL-6, a classical STAT3 activator, further fueled this loop. Knock-down of each component of the feedback loop prevented the CAF-induced increase in migratory activity and inhibited cellular growth in adherent cultures in the presence and absence of the anti-estrogen fulvestrant. These data show that TIMP-1/CD63/integrin β1/STAT3 plays a role in the effects of CAFs on breast cancer cell behavior.
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