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Cancer

Fibroblasts for all seasons

Nature volume 530, pages 42–43 (2016)Cite this article

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Connective-tissue cells known as fibroblasts display an increasing spectrum of functions. Different fibroblast subtypes are now shown to either promote or suppress inflammation-associated intestinal cancers.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key cell population in the tumour stroma, the term used for all cells of the tumour microenvironment except the cancerous ones. CAFs typically originate from mesenchymal cells, which are present in several healthy tissues. They frequently promote cancer progression by inducing cell proliferation, inflammation, blood-vessel growth and metastasis. However, they can also restrain tumour formation1. Two papers2,3 in The Journal of Experimental Medicine highlight the complexity of these cells and remind us to be cautious in contemplating their use in therapeutic applications. Both research groups studied the effect of fibroblast-specific inhibition of the NF-κB–IKK signalling pathway, a major mediator of inflammation and cancer4, on inflammation-associated colorectal cancer. Pallangyo et al.2 find that such inhibition promotes cancer development in mice, whereas Koliaraki et al.3 report a suppressive effect.

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Figure 1: Fibroblast functions in inflammation-associated colorectal cancer.

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References

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  1. Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Erwin F. Wagner is at the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), E-28029 Madrid, Spain.,

    Erwin F. Wagner

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  1. Erwin F. Wagner
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Correspondence to Erwin F. Wagner.

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Wagner, E. Fibroblasts for all seasons. Nature 530, 42–43 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/530042a

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