The promising role of noncoding RNAs in cancer-associated fibroblasts: an overview of current status and future perspectives

Journal of Hematology & Oncology

Si Shi¹  Zengli Fang¹  Jie Hua¹  Jiang Liu¹  Xianjun Yu¹  Wei Wang¹  Bo Zhang¹  Qingcai Meng¹  Jin Xu¹  Chen Liang¹ 

[1] Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center;

关键词: Noncoding RNA;    MicroRNA;    Long noncoding RNA;    Cancer-associated fibroblasts;    Tumor microenvironment;    Cancer;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13045-020-00988-x

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract As the most important component of the stromal cell population in the tumor microenvironment (TME), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are crucial players in tumor initiation and progression. The interaction between CAFs and tumor cells, as well as the resulting effect, is much greater than initially expected. Numerous studies have shown that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play an irreplaceable role in this interplay, and related evidence continues to emerge and advance. Under the action of ncRNAs, normal fibroblasts are directly or indirectly activated into CAFs, and their metabolic characteristics are changed; thus, CAFs can more effectively promote tumor progression. Moreover, via ncRNAs, activated CAFs can affect the gene expression and secretory characteristics of cells, alter the TME and enhance malignant biological processes in tumor cells to contribute to tumor promotion. Previously, ncRNA dysregulation was considered the main mechanism by which ncRNAs participate in the crosstalk between CAFs and tumor cells. Recently, however, exosomes containing ncRNAs have been identified as another vital mode of interaction between these two types of cells, with a more direct and clear function. Gaining an in-depth understanding of ncRNAs in CAFs and the complex regulatory network connecting CAFs with tumor cells might help us to establish more effective and safer approaches for cancer therapies targeting ncRNAs and CAFs and offer new hope for cancer patients.

【 授权许可】

Unknown