Genetic regulation and potentially therapeutic application of cancer-associated fibroblasts in oral cancer

Abstract

Carcinoma-associated fibroblast (CAF) is the most important host cell type in tumor microenvironment, which greatly contributes to tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Therefore, a large amount of data has emerged, showing the cancer-promoting function of these cells via paracrine effects that escort tumor cells through all the steps of cancer development. CAF is a heterogeneous cell population that can arise from the differentiation of resting fibroblasts, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the role of CAFs in tumor progression, with a particular focus on the cellular and molecular features and recent advances in researches on the genetic status and microRNA regulation, and addresses the potential prognostic and therapeutic values for patients with oral cancer by targeting CAFs. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.