title: Functional subsets of mesenchymal cell types in the tumor microenvironment.
abstract: In the field of tumor biology, increasing attention is now focused on the complex interactions between various constituent cell types within the tumor microenvironment as being functionally important for the etiology of the disease. The detailed description of tumor-promoting properties of cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, pericytes, and immune cells, introduces novel potential drug targets for improved cancer treatments, as well as a rationale for exploring the tumor stroma as a previously unchartered source for prognostic or predictive biomarkers. However, recent work highlights the fact that cellular identity is perhaps too broadly defined and that subdivision of each cell type may reveal functionally distinct subsets of cells. Here, we will review our current understanding of the diversity of different subsets of mesenchymal cells, i.e., cancer-associated fibroblasts and pericytes, residing within the tumor parenchyma.
authors.affiliation: Lund University, Department of Laboratory Medicine Lund, Division of Translational Cancer Research, Medicon Village, Building 404:A3, SE-223 81 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cortez
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Scheeles Väg 2, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pernilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roswall
authors.affiliation: Lund University, Department of Laboratory Medicine Lund, Division of Translational Cancer Research, Medicon Village, Building 404:A3, SE-223 81 Lund, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Scheeles Väg 2, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: Kristian.Pietras@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pietras
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010450:Endopeptidases; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D020286:Pericytes / Q000502:physiology; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D000071999:S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment; D000099167:Fibroblast Activation Protein Alpha
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases; D018093:Gelatinases; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D000071999:S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D000099167:Fibroblast Activation Protein Alpha; C077591:S100A4 protein, human
keywords: Cancer-associated fibroblast; Mesenchymal cells; Pericyte; Tumor microenvironment