The heterogeneity and biological functions of cancer-associated fibroblast
Cancer-associated fibroblasts(CAFs)are a crucial component of the tumor microenvironment.With the advent of technologies such as single-cell sequencing,the role of CAFs in tumor initiation and progression has been increasingly recognized.CAFs primarily originate from the activation of normal fibroblasts,epithelial-mesenchymal transition,the recruitment and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells,and transdifferentiation processes.CAFs ex-hibit significant molecular marker heterogeneity,functional diversity,and intra-tumoral variability.They participate in key biological functions such as tumor immunity,angiogenesis,and extracellular matrix remodeling through mecha-nisms like paracrine signaling,exosome release,and intercellular communication.Furthermore,CAFs influence criti-cal cancer cell behaviors,including proliferation,invasion,metastasis,and chemotherapy resistance,by regulating multiple signaling pathways.CAFs play a pivotal role in the development and progression of gastrointestinal malignan-cies such as colorectal cancer,pancreatic cancer,gastric cancer,and liver cancer.
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