Wu Jian, Deng Hong
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2008 Mar;37(2):212-7. doi: 10.3785/j.issn.1008-9292.2008.02.020.
Tumor microenvironment is composed of mesenchymal cells and extracellular matrix components, which plays an important role in the growth, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Characteristic changes of stroma are usually accompanied with the malignant transformation of epithelial cells even ahead. The key component in the process-activated fibroblasts, also known as myofibroblasts, or cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), is the most abundant cells in tumor stroma. They promote the malignant transformation of epithelial cells through cell-cell communication via various soluble factors. This article reviews cancer-associated fibroblasts and their role in tumor development.
肿瘤微环境由间充质细胞和细胞外基质成分组成，在肿瘤细胞的生长、侵袭和转移中起重要作用。基质的特征性变化通常甚至在上皮细胞恶性转化之前就已出现。该过程中的关键成分——活化成纤维细胞，也称为肌成纤维细胞或癌症相关成纤维细胞（CAF），是肿瘤基质中最丰富的细胞。它们通过各种可溶性因子进行细胞间通讯，促进上皮细胞的恶性转化。本文综述了癌症相关成纤维细胞及其在肿瘤发展中的作用。
