A framework for advancing our understanding of cancer-associated fibroblasts

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key component of the tumour microenvironment with diverse functions, including matrix deposition and remodelling, extensive reciprocal signalling interactions with cancer cells and crosstalk with infiltrating leukocytes. As such, they are a potential target for optimizing therapeutic strategies against cancer. However, many challenges are present in ongoing attempts to modulate CAFs for therapeutic benefit. These include limitations in our understanding of the origin of CAFs and heterogeneity in CAF function, with it being desirable to retain some antitumorigenic functions. On the basis of a meeting of experts in the field of CAF biology, we summarize in this…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Defense

  Awards: DE-AC02-05CH11231, W81XWH-14-1-0240, W81XWH
• HH
  Howard Hughes Medical Institute

  Awards: DE-AC02-05CH11231, W81XWH-14-1-0240
• MO
  March of Dimes Foundation
• VF
  V Foundation for Cancer Research

  Award: P01CA117969
• NF
  National Foundation for Cancer Research

  Awards: R35-CA197743, R01-CA208205
• PC
  Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
• AM
  Advanced Medical Research Foundation

  Awards: R35-CA197743, R01-CA208205
• P
  Pfizer
• A
  AstraZeneca
• G
  GlaxoSmithKline
• LF
  Lustgarten Foundation

  Awards: U01CA224013, SU2C-AACR-DT-20-16, 1R01CA188134, P20CA192996, U01CA210240, 5P50CA101955, 5P30CA45508, 1R01CA190092
• WT
  Wellcome Trust

  Awards: Z/17/Z, 206439/Z/17/Z, FC001144
• FC
  Francis Crick Institute

  Award: FC001144
• TF
  Thompson Family Foundation
• NH
  Northwell Health
• GF
  Greenfield Foundation
• SA
  Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration
• CR
  Cancer Research UK

  Awards: FC001144, A19258, C219/A23522
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Awards: DE-AC02-05CH11231, Gr1916/11-1, FOR2438
• IS
  Israel Science Foundation

  Awards: 401/17, 1384/1
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: R01CA174746, P50CA196510, CA232256, 1U10CA180944, R01CA232256, U01 CA199315, U01CA224013, 1R01CA190092, PO1 CA107584, R35-CA197743, R01-CA208205, P01CA117969, R35CA232124, R01CA177670, U54 CA143803, R01CA244938, R01CA188048, CA130919, W81XWH, U01CA210240-01A1, R01GM095567, CA06927, U01CA210240, CA197743, P20CA192996, DE-AC02-05CH11231, 5P50CA101955, 1R01CA188134, 17-85-HING, R01CA157490, U01-CA224173, 5P30CA45508
• SU
  Stand Up To Cancer

  Award: SU2C-AACR-DT-20-16
• PP
  Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
• LC
  Ludwig Center at Harvard
• MR
  Medical Research Council

  Awards: 401/17, FC001144, DE-AC02-05CH11231
• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

  Award: DE-AC02-05CH11231
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
• NC
  National Cancer Institute

  Awards: R01CA232256, R01CA177670, R01CA161112, R01CA174746, P50CA196510, U01 CA199315, R35CA232124, P01CA117969, R35-CA197743, 17-85-HING, R01CA188048, P01 CA217805, U01CA210240, U01CA224013, CA107584, R01CA244938, CA143803, U01-CA224173, DE-AC02-05CH11231, R01CA157490, 1R01CA190092, R01GM095567, P30CA045508, U2CCA223303, R01-CA208205, U01CA224193, R01CA203890, CA06927
• LB
  Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  Awards: DE-AC02-05CH11231, 05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231
• UA
  U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity