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Unraveling Collagen Signatures in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts
April 5, 2024
Unraveling collagen signatures in cancer-associated fibroblasts: A biomarker-driven approach
Introduction
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in driving tumor development. Among the constituents of the tumor stroma, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a pivotal component.
CAFs are actively involved in tumor progression by modulating the architecture of the TME through increased deposition of various collagens resulting in tumor fibrosis. Several studies have shown that CAFs have heterogeneity within, and between, individual tissues. TGF-β is thought to be the main driver of tumor fibrosis, however, the field lacks a characterization of the specific collagen deposition of CAFs from different tissues.
In this study, we investigated the fibrotic activity of CAFs from various tissues by measuring the production of three specific collagen peptides in vitro by use of non-invasive clinically validated biomarkers.
Poster
Conclusion
These findings underscore the heterogeneity in collagen production among CAFs from different indications, providing valuable insights into the ECM dynamics within distinct TMEs. Collagen-based non-invasive biomarkers further demonstrate the capability to differentiate between the fibrotic activity of CAFs isolated from different tissues. These insights support the utility of this model as a useful tool for anti-fibrotic drug screening.
