title: Cancer-associated fibroblasts modulate growth factor signaling and extracellular matrix remodeling to regulate tumor metastasis.
abstract: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are major components of the surrounding stroma of carcinomas that emerge in the tumor microenvironment as a result of signals derived from the cancer cells. Biochemical cross-talk between cancer cells and CAFs as well as mechanical remodeling of the stromal extracellular matrix (ECM) by CAFs are important contributors to tumor cell migration and invasion, which are critical for cancer progression from a primary tumor to metastatic disease. In this review, we discuss key paracrine signaling pathways between CAFs and cancer cells that promote cancer cell migration and invasion. In addition, we discuss physical changes that CAFs exert on the stromal ECM to facilitate migration and invasion of cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B, Box 35-1634, Nashville, TN 37235, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Begum
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erdogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B, Box 35-1634, Nashville, TN 37235, U.S.A.|Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, U.S.A.|Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Donna J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000072645:Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
keywords: cell migration; extracellular matrix; growth factors; metastasis; stroma; tumor microenvironments