Open AccessRole of cancer-associated fibroblasts in invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer
Author(s) -
Yan Yu,
Lifeng Wang,
Ruifen Wang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v21.i33.9717
Subject(s) - metastasis , angiogenesis , cancer associated fibroblasts , cancer research , microrna , carcinogenesis , biology , reprogramming , cancer , extracellular matrix , tumor progression , tumor microenvironment , cancer cell , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , gene , tumor cells , genetics
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are important components of various types of tumors, including gastric cancer (GC). During tumorigenesis and progression, CAFs play critical roles in tumor invasion and metastasis via a series of functions including extracellular matrix deposition, angiogenesis, metabolism reprogramming and chemoresistance. However, the mechanism of the interaction between gastric cancer cells and CAFs remains largely unknown. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding small RNA molecules, and their expression in CAFs not only regulates the expression of a number of target genes but also plays an essential role in the communication between tumor cells and CAFs. In this review, we provide an overview of recent studies on CAF miRNAs in GC and the relevant signaling pathways in gastrointestinal tumors. Focusing the attention on these signaling pathways may help us better understand their role in tumor invasion and metastasis and identify new molecular targets for therapeutic strategies.