title: Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts: Their Characteristics and Their Roles in Tumor Growth.
abstract: Cancer tissues are composed of cancer cells and the surrounding stromal cells (e.g., fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and immune cells), in addition to the extracellular matrix. Most studies investigating carcinogenesis and the progression, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis of cancer have focused on alterations in cancer cells, including genetic and epigenetic changes. Recently, interactions between cancer cells and the stroma have attracted considerable attention, and increasing evidence has accumulated on this. Several researchers have gradually clarified the origins, features, and roles of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a major component of the cancer stroma. CAFs function in a similar manner to myofibroblasts during wound healing. We previously reported the relationship between CAFs and angiogenesis. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a multifunctional cytokine, plays a central role in regulating inflammatory and immune responses, and important roles in the progression, including proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, of several cancers. We showed that CAFs are an important IL-6 source and that anti-IL-6 receptor antibody suppressed angiogenesis and inhibited tumor-stroma interactions. Furthermore, CAFs contribute to drug-resistance acquisition in cancer cells. The interaction between cancer cells and the stroma could be a potential target for anti-cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan. kz-0926@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiga
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan. mshara@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masayasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan. tnbmw532@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Takaya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan. tak-sato@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan. takahasi@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan. takeyama@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeyama
keywords: angiogenesis; cancer-associated fibroblasts; drug resistance; interleukin 6; origin; tumor-stroma interaction