Breast cancer-associated fibroblasts： their roles in tumor nitiation, progression and clinical applications

• Published in: 医学前沿：英文版 2016 (1), p.33-40
• Main Author: Aixiu Qiao Feng Gu Xiaojing Guo Xinmin Zhang Li Fu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 临床应用; 乳腺癌; 成纤维细胞; 生物标志物; 生物活性分子; 生长因子; 细胞外基质; 肿瘤形成
• ISSN: 2095-0217; 2095-0225

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women, and the incidence of this disease has increased in recent years because of changes in diet, living environment, gestational age, and other unknown factors. Previous studies focused on cancer cells, but an increasing number of recent studies have analyzed the contribution of cancer microenvironment to the initiation and progression of breast cancer. Cancer-associated libroblasts （CAFs）, the most abundant cells in tumor stroma, secrete various active biomolecules, including extraceHular matrix components, growth factors, cytokines, proteases, and hormones. CAFs not only facilitate the initiation, growth, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis of cancer but also serve as biomarkers in the clinical diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of breast cancer. In this article, we reviewed the literature and summarized the research findings on CAFs in breast cancer.