Function and regulation of melanoma-stromal fibroblast interactions: when seeds meet soil.
Melanoma development and progression not only involve genetic and epigenetic changes that take place within the melanocytic cells, but also involve processes that are determined collectively by contextual factors including intercellular adhesions and communications. In this review, we focus on melanoma-stromal fibroblast crosstalk by direct cell-cell contact and by growth factors/cytokines/chemokines interacting with their respective receptors. The interactions between melanoma cells and stromal fibroblasts create a context that promotes tumor growth, migration/invasion, and angiogenesis. An understanding of this process and developing new experimental and screening models are of great importance for the development of effective therapeutical strategies to treat melanoma.
Li
Gang
G
The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Satyamoorthy
Kapaettu
K
Meier
Friedegund
F
Berking
Carola
C
Bogenrieder
Thomas
T
Herlyn
Meenhard
M
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D006133:Growth Substances