Erschienen in:
11.10.2019 | Translational Research and Biomarkers
Identification, Friend or Foe: Vimentin and α-Smooth Muscle Actin in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts
verfasst von:
Sachiyo Nomura, MD, PhD, AGAF, FACS
Erschienen in:
Annals of Surgical Oncology
|
Ausgabe 13/2019
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Excerpt
Cancers construct a milieu that helps them grow. One of the compositions of this milieu is cancer-associated fibroblast (CAFs), which are different from mere fibroblasts in terms of their origin, expressing genes, secreting molecules, and effect for cancer cells. The characteristics of fibroblasts have not been well-analyzed. Kalluri described fibroblasts as cockroaches of the human body for their surviving severe stress and resilient adaptation.
1 Activated fibroblasts express α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and vimentin, together with extracellular matrix production/remodeling, and cytoskeletal rearrangement, and have been identified as being different from resting fibroblasts. CAFs are different from activated fibroblasts as they gain further secretory phenotypes and extracellular matrix production/remodeling, possibly irreversibly. …