TY  - JOUR
A1  - Elwakeel, Eiman
A1  - Weigert, Andreas
T1  - Breast cancer CAFs: spectrum of phenotypes and promising targeting avenues
T2  - International journal of molecular sciences
N2  - Activation of the tumor-associated stroma to support tumor growth is a common feature observed in different cancer entities. This principle is exemplified by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are educated by the tumor to shape its development across all stages. CAFs can alter the extracellular matrix (ECM) and secrete a variety of different molecules. In that manner they have the capability to affect activation, survival, proliferation, and migration of other stromal cells and cancer cell themselves. Alteration of the ECM, desmoplasia, is a common feature of breast cancer, indicating a prominent role for CAFs in shaping tumor development in the mammary gland. In this review, we summarize the multiple roles CAFs play in mammary carcinoma. We discuss experimental and clinical strategies to interfere with CAFs function in breast cancer. Moreover, we highlight the issues arising from CAFs heterogeneity and the need for further research to identify CAFs subpopulation(s) that can be targeted to improve breast cancer therapy.
KW  - cancer-associated fibroblasts
KW  - mammary carcinoma
KW  - cancer
KW  - tumor microenvironment
KW  - extracellular matrix
KW  - metastasis
Y1  - 2021
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/83158
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-831586
SN  - 1422-0067
N1  - This work was supported by Wilhelm-Sander Foundation (2019.082.01), Deutsche Krebshilfe (70114051), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (FOR 2438, TP8; SFB 1039, TPB06; GRK 2336, TP1), the LOEWE Center Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI) funded by the Hessen State Ministry for Higher Education, Research and the Arts [III L 5-519/03/03.001-(0015)], and Förderung Nachwuchsforscher 2020 funded by Goethe-Universität Frankfurt (71000644).
VL  - 22
IS  - 21, art.  11636
SP  - 1
EP  - 20
PB  - Molecular Diversity Preservation International
CY  - Basel
ER  -