Effects of tumor-associated fibroblasts in the development of colorectal cancer and its research progress / 实用肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Cancer-associated fibroblasts(CAFs)are one of the most important cellular components in the external microen-vironment of tumors. CAFs can interact with tumor cells and secrete a variety of soluble factors such as growth factors,chemokines,and so on. CAFs are also involved in the proliferation,invasion,migration,metastasis and drug resistance of colorectal cancer through regu-lating multiple signaling pathways that play a key role in the progression of colorectal cancer. Recent studies have found that CAFs re-lated markers and genes can be used as reference indicators for the predicting prognosis of colorectal cancer. Therefore,targeting CAFs may be a key target for early diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of colorectal cancer. This article summarizes the characteristics of CAFs,recruitment and activation process,and its role in the development of colorectal cancer in order to provide a new scientific di-rection for the mechanism of action and clinical application of CAFs in colorectal cancer.