Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Esophageal CancerSummary

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a heterogenous population, can promote cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, immunosuppression, and therapeutic resistance in solid tumors. These effects are mediated through secretion of cytokines and growth factors, remodeling of the extracellular ma...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inCellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology Vol. 17; no. 5; pp. 687 - 695
Main Authors Karen J. Dunbar, Kwok K. Wong, Anil K. Rustgi
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier 01.01.2024
Subjects
Barrett’s Esophagus
Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts
Esophageal Cancer
Squamous Dysplasia
Tumor Stroma
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a heterogenous population, can promote cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, immunosuppression, and therapeutic resistance in solid tumors. These effects are mediated through secretion of cytokines and growth factors, remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and providing metabolic support for cancer cells. The presence of CAFs in esophageal carcinoma are associated with reduced overall survival and increased resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy; thus, identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities of CAFs is a necessity. In esophageal cancer, the mechanisms for CAF recruitment, CAF-mediated promotion of tumorigenesis, metastatic dissemination, and therapeutic resistance have yet to be fully evaluated. Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of CAFs in esophageal cancer, namely in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma, as well as in the preneoplastic conditions that predispose to these cancers. Interestingly, there is a discrepancy in our knowledge of CAF biology between esophageal cancer subtypes, with very few studies in esophageal adenocarcinoma, and its precursor lesion Barrett’s esophagus, compared with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. We propose that although great strides have been made, certain questions remain to which answers hopefully will emerge to have an impact on biomarker diagnostics and translational therapeutics.
ISSN:2352-345X