Open Access

Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor structure, composition and the microenvironment in ovarian cancer (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Wei Sun
    • Shilong Fu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 8, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2019.10587
  • Pages: 2173-2178
  • Copyright: © Sun et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Ovarian cancer (OVAC) remains the most lethal gynecological malignancy; it is ranked fifth among the most common types of cancer that affect women worldwide. Several aspects of the disease, including molecular pathogenesis, epidemiology, histological subtypes, poor prognosis at early stages due to the absence of specific signs and symptoms, and curative treatments in the advanced stages are all responsible for the poor survival rate, which is evaluated to be at 5 years once the cancer is diagnosed and treatment begins. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer is therefore crucial, even though unexplored pathways, in order to improve the prognosis of patients with OVAC and to develop novel therapeutic approaches. Accordingly, the tumor microenvironment, defined as the combination of proteins produced by all tumor cells and by non‑cancerous cells or the stroma, and composed of several cells, including those from the immune, inflammatory and adipose systems, as well as the mesenchymal stem, endothelial and fibroblasts cells, has recently attracted attention. Of particular interest are fibroblasts, which can be activated into cancer‑associated fibroblast (CAFs) to become a potent supporter of carcinogenesis, promoting the initiation of epithelial tumor formation, tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis, as well as therapeutic resistance and immunosuppression. Thus, the targeting of CAFs for early diagnosis and effective therapy warrants our attention. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms through which CAFs may affect the structure, composition and microenvironment of the ovarian tumor. We also aim to highlight important aspects of OVAC pathobiology involving CAFs, in an attempt to provide insight into novel diagnostic windows and provide new therapeutic perspectives.
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September-2019
Volume 18 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Sun W and Sun W: Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor structure, composition and the microenvironment in ovarian cancer (Review). Oncol Lett 18: 2173-2178, 2019
APA
Sun, W., & Sun, W. (2019). Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor structure, composition and the microenvironment in ovarian cancer (Review). Oncology Letters, 18, 2173-2178. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2019.10587
MLA
Sun, W., Fu, S."Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor structure, composition and the microenvironment in ovarian cancer (Review)". Oncology Letters 18.3 (2019): 2173-2178.
Chicago
Sun, W., Fu, S."Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor structure, composition and the microenvironment in ovarian cancer (Review)". Oncology Letters 18, no. 3 (2019): 2173-2178. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2019.10587