title: Cancer associated fibroblasts and tumor growth: focus on multiple myeloma.
abstract: Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) comprise a heterogeneous population that resides within the tumor microenvironment. They actively participate in tumor growth and metastasis by production of cytokines and chemokines, and the release of pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic factors, creating a more supportive microenvironment. The aim of the current review is to summarize the origin and characteristics of CAFs, and to describe the role of CAFs in tumor progression and metastasis. Furthermore, we focus on the presence of CAFs in hypoxic conditions in relation to multiple myeloma disease.
authors: Department of Hematology and Immunology, Myeloma Center Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels 1090, Belgium. kdeveirm@vub.ac.be.
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: De Veirman
authors: Department of Hematology and Immunology, Myeloma Center Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels 1090, Belgium. luigiarao@gmail.com.
authors: Luigia
authors: L
authors: Rao
authors: Department of Hematology and Immunology, Myeloma Center Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels 1090, Belgium. elke.de.bruyne@vub.ac.be.
authors: Elke
authors: E
authors: De Bruyne
authors: Department of Hematology and Immunology, Myeloma Center Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels 1090, Belgium. eline.menu@vub.ac.be.
authors: Eline
authors: E
authors: Menu
authors: Department of Hematology and Immunology, Myeloma Center Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels 1090, Belgium. els.van.valckenborgh@vub.ac.be.
authors: Els
authors: E
authors: Van Valckenborgh
authors: Department of Hematology and Immunology, Myeloma Center Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels 1090, Belgium. ivan.vanriet@uzbrussel.be.
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Van Riet
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General Pathology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari I-70124, Italy. antofrassanito@gmail.com.
authors: Maria Antonia
authors: MA
authors: Frassanito
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Bari Medical School, Bari I-70124, Italy. luciana1976@libero.it.
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Di Marzo
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Bari Medical School, Bari I-70124, Italy. luciana1976@libero.it.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Vacca
authors: Department of Hematology and Immunology, Myeloma Center Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels 1090, Belgium. angelo.vacca@uniba.it.
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Vanderkerken