scholarly journals Cancer: An Oxidative Crosstalk between Solid Tumor Cells and Cancer Associated Fibroblasts

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Arcucci ◽  
Maria Rosaria Ruocco ◽  
Giuseppina Granato ◽  
Anna Maria Sacco ◽  
Stefania Montagnani

Redox balance is associated with the regulation of several cell signalling pathways and functions. In fact, under physiological conditions, cells maintain a balance between oxidant and antioxidant systems, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) can act as second messengers to regulate cell proliferation, cell death, and other physiological processes. Cancer tissues usually contain higher levels of ROS than normal tissues, and this ROS overproduction is associated with tumor development. Neoplastic tissues are very heterogeneous systems, composed of tumor cells and microenvironment that has a critical role in tumor progression. Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent the main cell type of tumor microenvironment, and they contribute to tumor growth by undergoing an irreversible activation process. It is known that ROS can be transferred from cancer cells to fibroblasts. In particular, ROS affect the behaviour of CAFs by promoting the conversion of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts that support tumor progression and dissemination. Furthermore, the wrecking of redox homeostasis in cancer cells and tumor microenvironment induces a metabolic reprogramming in tumor cells and cancer associated fibroblasts, giving advantage to cancer growth. This review describes the role of ROS in tumor growth, by focusing on CAFs activation and metabolic interactions between cancer cells and stromal fibroblasts.

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (25) ◽  
pp. 6410-6415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharathchandra Arandkar ◽  
Noa Furth ◽  
Yair Elisha ◽  
Nishanth Belugali Nataraj ◽  
Heiko van der Kuip ◽  
...  

Within the tumor microenvironment, cancer cells coexist with noncancerous adjacent cells that constitute the tumor microenvironment and impact tumor growth through diverse mechanisms. In particular, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promote tumor progression in multiple ways. Earlier studies have revealed that in normal fibroblasts (NFs), p53 plays a cell nonautonomous tumor-suppressive role to restrict tumor growth. We now wished to investigate the role of p53 in CAFs. Remarkably, we found that the transcriptional program supported by p53 is altered substantially in CAFs relative to NFs. In agreement, the p53-dependent secretome is also altered in CAFs. This transcriptional rewiring renders p53 a significant contributor to the distinct intrinsic features of CAFs, as well as promotes tumor cell migration and invasion in culture. Concordantly, the ability of CAFs to promote tumor growth in mice is greatly compromised by depletion of their endogenous p53. Furthermore, cocultivation of NFs with cancer cells renders their p53-dependent transcriptome partially more similar to that of CAFs. Our findings raise the intriguing possibility that tumor progression may entail a nonmutational conversion (“education”) of stromal p53, from tumor suppressive to tumor supportive.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurcan Gunaydin

Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) are among the most important and abundant players of the tumor microenvironment. CAFs as well as TAMs are known to play pivotal supportive roles in tumor growth and progression. The number of CAF or TAM cells is mostly correlated with poor prognosis. Both CAFs and TAMs are in a reciprocal communication with the tumor cells in the tumor milieu. In addition to such interactions, CAFs and TAMs are also involved in a dynamic and reciprocal interrelationship with each other. Both CAFs and TAMs are capable of altering each other’s functions. Here, the current understanding of the distinct mechanisms about the complex interplay between CAFs and TAMs are summarized. In addition, the consequences of such a mutual relationship especially for tumor progression and tumor immune evasion are highlighted, focusing on the synergistic pleiotropic effects. CAFs and TAMs are crucial components of the tumor microenvironment; thus, they may prove to be potential therapeutic targets. A better understanding of the tri-directional interactions of CAFs, TAMs and cancer cells in terms of tumor progression will pave the way for the identification of novel theranostic cues in order to better target the crucial mechanisms of carcinogenesis.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongwei Dou ◽  
Xiaoyang Ren ◽  
Mingli Han ◽  
Xiaodong Xu ◽  
Xin Ge ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) are important component in tumor microenvironment and has been reported contributes to tumor progression through many mechanisms, however, the detailed mechanism underling immune-suppression effect are not clearly defined. Methods In this study, human breast cancer-derived cancer associated fibroblasts was cultured, and CAF-derived exosomes in culture medium was isolated. Cancer cell migration was evaluated by transwell and wound healing assay, miR-92 binding to the LATS2 3’ untranslated region was validated by luciferase report assay, and underlying mechanism was investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation and Immunoprecipitation. Results After treatment by CAF-derived exosomes, breast cancer cells express higher PD-L1, accompanied with increased miR-92 expression. Increased PD-L1 expression which induced by CAF- derived exosomes significantly promotes apoptosis and impaired proliferation of T cell. proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells was increased after transfection of miR-92, LATS2 was recognized as target gene of miR-92, which was proved by luciferase assay. Immunoprecipitation (IP) shown that LATS2 can interact with YAP1, after nuclear translocation, YAP1 could binds to enhancer region of PD-L1 to promotes transcription activity, which was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Furthermore, animal study confirmed that cancer associated fibroblasts significantly promotes tumor progression and impaired function of tumor infiltrated immune cells in vivo. Conclusion Our data revealed a novel mechanism which can induce immune suppression in tumor microenvironment.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 3321-3321
Author(s):  
Rong Li ◽  
Meiping Ren ◽  
Ni Chen ◽  
Mao Luo ◽  
Jianbo Wu

Abstract Abstract 3321 Platelets play a fundamental role in maintaining hemostasis and have been shown to participate in hemorrhagic metastasis. However, the role of platelets in the tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis initiation remains undefined. The B16/F10 melanoma cancer cells model of metastasis and the Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) spontaneous pulmonary metastasis model were used for this purpose. Using induction of thrombocytopenia, primary tumor growth was monitored and every 3 days anti-GPIbα or rat IgG injections were initiated when tumor reached ∼500mm3and continued until tumor reached to 3 weeks. We showed that platelet depletion had no change in tumor growth but reduced metastasis. Platelet depletion significantly increased pericyte coverage and reduced vascular density compared with control mice. We evaluated the ratio of fluorescence intensities within the plasma and tumor following injection of mice with FITC-dextran. We found that the FITC-dextran was similarly deposited into the tumor tissue in either platelet-depleted or control mice, indicating that tumor vessel perfusion did not differ in either platelet-depleted or control mice. To further gain insight into the molecular mechanisms associated with reduced metastasis resulting from platelet depletion, we assessed hypoxia levels by examining pimonidazole adduct formation in the tumors of platelet-depleted and control mice and found decreased hypoxic levels in the platelet-depleted tumors. In addition, expression of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor HIF-1α was also significantly reduced in the tumors of platelet-depleted mice. Tumor hypoxia is strongly associated with deposition of hemoglobin. We measured the intratumor hemoglobin content, reflecting the level of erythrocytes extravasation. The hemoglobin content in the tumors of mice with platelet-depletion was significantly higher than that of control mice (172.11 ± 20.2 g/L/g Vs. 110.28 ± 12.4 g/L/g, p<0.05) Based on the known induction effects of hypoxia and cancer invasiveness on the expression and activation of the proinvasive tyrosine kinase receptor Met, we analyzed total protein and tyrosine phosphorylation levels of Met in both platelet-depleted and control mice. Western blotting analysis revealed that platelet-depletion caused a significantly decrease of both total Met and phosph-Met in tumors when compared to tumors from control mice. To evaluate intratumoral growth factor level, microdialysis was performed after 3 weeks and there was a significant decrease of extracellular VEGF and TNF-β in platelet depletion mice compared with control mice. Recent studies demonstrated that abundant platelets were detected in the tumor microenvironment apart from the vasculature. Based on the finding platelets in contact with tumor cells outside the bloodstream, we examined the functional effects of co-implantation of B16/F10 tumor cells with platelets on tumor progression and metastasis. B16/F10 melanoma cancer cells were implanted into back of wild type mice. During a 3-weeks growth, co-implantation of B16/F10 with platelets not only led to promoted tumor volume (3968 ± 296 mm3Vs. 2956 ± 180 mm3, p<0.05) and weight (5.529 ± 0.35 g Vs. 3.943 ± 0.738 g, p<0.05 ) compared with B16/F10 alone implantation, but also led to an increase in metastasis. Furthermore, in vitro co-culture of B16/F10 cancer cells with platelets showed a significant increase in B16/F10 cancer cells invasion compared with B16/F10 cancer cells alone. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate for the first time that platelets play a critical role in the initiation of tumor metastasis. Moreover, our findings suggest that platelets within the primary tumor microenvironment are likely involved in tumor progression and metastasis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelica Avagliano ◽  
Giuseppina Granato ◽  
Maria Rosaria Ruocco ◽  
Veronica Romano ◽  
Immacolata Belviso ◽  
...  

Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main stromal cell type of solid tumour microenvironment and undergo an activation process associated with secretion of growth factors, cytokines, and paracrine interactions. One of the important features of solid tumours is the metabolic reprogramming that leads to changes of bioenergetics and biosynthesis in both tumour cells and CAFs. In particular, CAFs follow the evolution of tumour disease and acquire a catabolic phenotype: in tumour tissues, cancer cells and tumour microenvironment form a network where the crosstalk between cancer cells and CAFs is associated with cell metabolic reprogramming that contributes to CAFs activation, cancer growth, and progression and evasion from cancer therapies. In this regard, the study of CAFs metabolic reprogramming could contribute to better understand their activation process, the interaction between stroma, and cancer cells and could offer innovative tools for the development of new therapeutic strategies able to eradicate the protumorigenic activity of CAFs. Therefore, this review focuses on CAFs metabolic reprogramming associated with both differentiation process and cancer and stromal cells crosstalk. Finally, therapeutic responses and potential anticancer strategies targeting CAFs metabolic reprogramming are reviewed.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Federico Virga ◽  
Lorena Quirico ◽  
Stefania Cucinelli ◽  
Massimiliano Mazzone ◽  
Daniela Taverna ◽  
...  

The metabolism of cancer cells is generally very different from what is found in normal counterparts. However, in a tumor mass, the continuous crosstalk and competition for nutrients and oxygen among different cells lead to metabolic alterations, not only in cancer cells, but also in the different stromal and immune cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which are highly relevant for tumor progression. MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that silence their mRNA targets post-transcriptionally and are involved in numerous physiological cell functions as well as in the adaptation to stress situations. Importantly, miRs can also be released via extracellular vesicles (EVs) and, consequently, take part in the bidirectional communication between tumor and surrounding cells under stress conditions. Certain miRs are abundantly expressed in stromal and immune cells where they can regulate various metabolic pathways by directly suppressing enzymes or transporters as well as by controlling important regulators (such as transcription factors) of metabolic processes. In this review, we discuss how miRs can induce metabolic reprogramming in stromal (fibroblasts and adipocytes) and immune (macrophages and T cells) cells and, in turn, how the biology of the different cells present in the TME is able to change. Finally, we debate the rebound of miR-dependent metabolic alterations on tumor progression and their implications for cancer management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 9121
Author(s):  
De Pradip ◽  
Aske Jennifer ◽  
Dey Nandini

A tumor cell carrying characteristic genomic alteration(s) exists within its host’s microenvironment. The tumor microenvironment (TME) renders holistic support to the tumor via cross-talk between tumor cells and three components of TME, immune components, vascular components, and fibroblast components. The tempero-spatial interaction of tumor cells with its microenvironment is the deterministic factor for tumor growth, progression, resistance to therapy, and its outcome in clinics. TME (1) facilitates proliferation, and the ensuing metastasis-associated phenotypes, (2) perturbs immune surveillance and supports tumor cells in their effort to evade immune recognition, and (3) actively participates in developing drug-induced resistance in cancer cells. Cancer-Associated Fibroblast (CAF) is a unique component of TME. CAF is the host mesenchyme immediately surrounding the tumor cells in solid tumors. It facilitates tumor growth and progression and participates in developing drug resistance in tumor cells by playing a critical role in all the ways mentioned above. The clinical outcome of a disease is thus critically contributed to by the CAF component of TME. Although CAFs have been identified historically, the functional relevance of CAF-tumor cell cross-talk and their influence on angiogenic and immune-components of TME are yet to be characterized in solid tumors, especially in endometrial cancers. Currently, the standard of care for the treatment of endometrial cancers is primarily guided by therapies directed towards the disease’s tumor compartment and immune compartments. Unfortunately, in the current state of therapies, a complete response (CR) to the therapy is still limited despite a more commonly achieved partial response (PR) and stable disease (SD) in patients. Acknowledging the limitations of the current sets of therapies based on only the tumor and immune compartments of the disease, we sought to put forward this review based on the importance of the cross-talk between CAF of the tumor microenvironment and tumor cells. The premise of the review is to recognize the critical role of CAF in disease progression. This manuscript presents a systemic review of the role of CAF in endometrial cancers. We critically interrogated the active involvement of CAF in the tumor compartment of endometrial cancers. Here we present the functional characteristics of CAF in the context of endometrial cancers. We review (1) the characteristics of CAF, (2) their evolution from being anti-tumor to pro-tumor, (3) their involvement in regulating growth and several metastasis-associated phenotypes of tumor cells, (4) their participation in perturbing immune defense and evading immune surveillance, and (5) their role in mediating drug resistance via tumor-CAF cross-talk with particular reference to endometrial cancers. We interrogate the functional characteristics of CAF in the light of its dialogue with tumor cells and other components of TME towards developing a CAF-based strategy for precision therapy to supplement tumor-based therapy. The purpose of the review is to present a new vision and initiate a thought process which recognizes the importance of CAF in a tumor, thereby resulting in a novel approach to the design and management of the disease in endometrial cancers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 573-585
Author(s):  
Tanya N Augustine

There is increasing awareness that platelets play a significant role in creating a hypercoagulable environment that mediates tumor progression, beyond their classical hemostatic function. Platelets have heterogenic responses to agonists, and differential release and uptake of bioactive molecules may be manipulated via reciprocal cross-talk with cells of the tumor microenvironment. Platelets thus promote tumor progression by enhancing tumor growth, promoting the development of tumor-associated vasculature and encouraging invasion. In the metastatic process, platelets form the shield that protects tumor cells from high-velocity forces and immunosurveillance, while ensuring the establishment of the pre-metastatic niche. This review presents the complexity of these concepts, considering platelets as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and potentially as therapeutic targets in cancer.


Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subramanyam Dasari ◽  
Yiming Fang ◽  
Anirban K. Mitra

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, and patient prognosis has not improved significantly over the last several decades. In order to improve therapeutic approaches and patient outcomes, there is a critical need for focused research towards better understanding of the disease. Recent findings have revealed that the tumor microenvironment plays an essential role in promoting cancer progression and metastasis. The tumor microenvironment consists of cancer cells and several different types of normal cells recruited and reprogrammed by the cancer cells to produce factors beneficial to tumor growth and spread. These normal cells present within the tumor, along with the various extracellular matrix proteins and secreted factors, constitute the tumor stroma and can compose 10–60% of the tumor volume. Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major constituent of the tumor microenvironment, and play a critical role in promoting many aspects of tumor function. This review will describe the various hypotheses about the origin of CAFs, their major functions in the tumor microenvironment in ovarian cancer, and will discuss the potential of targeting CAFs as a possible therapeutic approach.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khandan Ilkhani ◽  
Milad Bastami ◽  
Soheila Delgir ◽  
Asma Safi ◽  
Shahrzad Talebian ◽  
...  

: Metabolic reprogramming is a significant property of various cancer cells, which most commonly arises from the Tumor Microenvironment (TME). The events of metabolic pathways include the Warburg effect, shifting in Krebs cycle metabolites, and the rate of oxidative phosphorylation, potentially providing energy and structural requirements for the development and invasiveness of cancer cells. TME and tumor metabolism shifting have a close relationship through bidirectional signaling pathways between stromal and tumor cells. Cancer- Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs), as the most dominant cells of TME, play a crucial role in the aberrant metabolism of cancer. Furthermore, the stated relationship can affect survival, progression, and metastasis in cancer development. Recently, exosomes are considered one of the most prominent factors in cellular communications considering effective content and bidirectional mediatory effect between tumor and stromal cells. In this regard, CAF-Derived Exosomes (CDE) exhibit an efficient obligation to induce metabolic reprogramming for promoting growth and metastasis of cancer cells. The understanding of cancer metabolism, including factors related to TME, could lead to the discovery of a potential biomarker for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in cancer management. This review focuses on the association between metabolic reprogramming and engaged microenvironmental, factors such as CAFs, and the associated derived exosomes.


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