Cancer-associated Fibroblasts
Cancer-associated Fibroblasts - Related Videos
09:43
Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Prostate Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts
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Cited by 1 •
2025
This protocol provides a comprehensive procedure to isolate, expand, and immortalize fibroblasts from radical prostatectomies. Moreover, it describes assays developed to assess the functional effects of fibroblast-tumor cell crosstalk, taking advantage of both treatment with conditioned medium and co-culturing.
10:33
Molecular Profiling of the Invasive Tumor Microenvironment in a 3-Dimensional Model of Colorectal Cancer Cells and Ex vivo Fibroblasts
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Cited by 2 •
2014
Molecular profiling of laser microdissected cells and stroma from synthetic, tissue-engineered colorectal cancer models represents a novel and manipulatable approach to characterize and dissect the distinctive biology at the interface between tumor cells at the invasive front and cancer associated stromal cells.
15:43
Experimental Generation of Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) from Human Mammary Fibroblasts
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Cited by 25 •
2011
Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) rich in myofibroblasts present within the tumour stroma, play a major role in driving tumour progression. We developed a coimplantation tumour xengraft model for experimentally generating CAFs from human mammary fibroblasts. The protocol describes how to establish CAF myofibroblasts that acquire an ability to promote tumourigenesis.
04:41
Magnetically Bioprinted 3D Spheroid Co-cultures: A Method for Co-culturing Cancerous Cells and Fibroblasts
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2023
This video explains the 3D magnetic bioprinting of co-cultured pancreatic cancer cells and fibroblasts. Pancreatic cancer cells and activated pancreatic fibroblast cells are co-cultured and magnetized using a biocompatible nanoparticle assembly, to generate spheroids, under the influence of magnetic forces.
10:51
Preparation and Metabolic Assay of 3-dimensional Spheroid Co-cultures of Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Fibroblasts
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Cited by 31 •
2017
Here, a method is described for the preparation of 3-dimensional (3D) spheroid co-culture of pancreatic cancer cells and fibroblasts, followed by measurement of metabolic functions using an extracellular flux analyzer.
FAQs
CAF-derived extracellular matrix, cytokines, and growth factors reshape the tumor microenvironment through complementary effects. Matrix production remodels the surrounding tissue, while secreted cytokines and growth factors alter communication among tumor and stromal cells. Together, these activities can support angiogenesis, modify immune activity, and create conditions that favor tumor-cell invasion, linking stromal remodeling to cancer progression.
Resident fibroblasts can become involved when tumor-derived signals stimulate their activation, placing local stromal cells within the cancer-supporting environment. However, CAFs are not functionally uniform: their subtypes can differ in the activities they perform. This diversity means that CAF-related effects can vary among tumors and must be considered when interpreting stromal mechanisms or developing CAF-focused strategies.
By altering immune activity, CAFs can influence how surrounding immune responses operate within the tumor environment. At the same time, their effects on angiogenesis can change tissue conditions that support tumor growth. Considering both processes shows that CAF biology extends beyond tumor-cell behavior to coordinated changes in vascular and immune components surrounding the cancer.
CAF-driven tissue remodeling and signaling can influence how therapies encounter the tumor environment. Their association with treatment response and therapeutic resistance makes them relevant to understanding why cancer may respond incompletely. CAFs are therefore investigated as possible targets for improving drug delivery and strengthening treatment strategies, including approaches involving immunotherapy and precision cancer treatment.
CAFs are considered potential biomarkers because their subtypes and functions reflect biologically meaningful differences in the tumor microenvironment. Examining these differences may help researchers relate stromal features to disease development, treatment response, or therapeutic resistance. The same information can support precision-cancer strategies by identifying which stromal characteristics deserve closer experimental or clinical attention.
In cancer biology, CAF research connects the tumor cell to its surrounding tissue rather than treating disease as a tumor-cell-only process. CAF-focused studies can examine how stromal signals regulate progression, invasion, angiogenesis, immune activity, and therapy response. This broader view supports research aimed at improving immunotherapy, drug delivery, and precision treatment.