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Important insights into carcinoma-associated fibroblasts

Date:
May 8, 2014
Source:
University of Notre Dame
Summary:
Important new insights into the role carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play in tumor biology have been discovered by researchers. A number of recent studies have revealed CAFs to be a major contributor to tumor progression through a variety of mechanisms. Despite this information, the precise role CAFs play in augmenting the growth of tumors is still poorly understood.
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A new paper by a team of researchers led by Zachary T. Schafer, Coleman Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, offers important new insights into the role carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play in tumor biology. A number of recent studies have revealed CAFs to be a major contributor to tumor progression through a variety of mechanisms. Despite this information, the precise role CAFs play in augmenting the growth of tumors is still poorly understood. In their new paper, Schafer and his fellow researchers describe a critical role for CAFs in blocking anoikis (a cell death process that inhibits the spread of tumor cells to distant sites) through the secretion of insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs). They revealed the precise molecular mechanism utilized by IGFBPs to inhibit anoikis: the stabilization of an anti-cell death- protein called Mcl-1.

"While cells present in the tumor microenvironment are now widely appreciated to actively contribute to tumor progression, our studies have unveiled a novel mechanism by which this can occur," Schafer said. "Therapies designed to hinder this role for IGFBPs might be particularly useful in slowing breast cancer metastasis."

Schafer notes, however, that additional pre-clinical studies are necessary to better understand which IGFBPs might be amenable to target and to determine the precise point during tumor progression that IGBFP inhibition could be effective.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Notre Dame. Original written by William G. Gilroy. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. K. J. Weigel, A. Jakimenko, B. A. Conti, S. E. Chapman, W. J. Kaliney, W. M. Leevy, M. M. Champion, Z. T. Schafer. CAF-Secreted IGFBPs Regulate Breast Cancer Cell Anoikis. Molecular Cancer Research, 2014; DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-14-0090

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University of Notre Dame. "Important insights into carcinoma-associated fibroblasts." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 May 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140508111032.htm>.
University of Notre Dame. (2014, May 8). Important insights into carcinoma-associated fibroblasts. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140508111032.htm
University of Notre Dame. "Important insights into carcinoma-associated fibroblasts." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140508111032.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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