title: Cancer-associated fibroblasts connect metastasis-promoting communication in colorectal cancer.
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and eventually metastasis is directed in many aspects by a circuitous ecosystem consisting of an extracellular matrix scaffold populated by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells, and diverse immune cells. CAFs are recruited from local tissue-resident fibroblasts or pericryptal fibroblasts and distant fibroblast precursors. CAFs are highly abundant in CRC. In this review, we apply the metastasis-promoting communication of colorectal CAFs to 10 cancer hallmarks described by Hanahan and Weinberg. CAFs influence innate and adaptive tumor immune responses. Using datasets from previously published work, we re-explore the potential messages implicated in this process. Fibroblasts present in metastasis (metastasis-associated fibroblasts) from CRC may have other characteristics and functional roles than CAFs in the primary tumor. Since CAFs connect metastasis-promoting communication, CAF markers are potential prognostic biomarkers. CAFs and their products are possible targets for novel therapeutic strategies.
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Radiation Oncology and Experimental Cancer Research, Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium.
authors: Joke
authors: J
authors: Tommelein
authors: Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels , Belgium.
authors: Laurine
authors: L
authors: Verset
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Radiation Oncology and Experimental Cancer Research, Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium.
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Boterberg
authors: Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels , Belgium.
authors: Pieter
authors: P
authors: Demetter
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Radiation Oncology and Experimental Cancer Research, Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Bracke
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Radiation Oncology and Experimental Cancer Research, Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: De Wever
keywords: cancer-associated fibroblasts; colorectal cancer; immune cells; metastasis; pericryptal fibroblasts