According to a story from Science Daily, a research team affiliated with the Medical University of Vienna helped to define the different varieties of fibroblasts present in skin cancer. These findings could have significant implications for the development of immunotherapy treatments in skin cancer. The fibroblast is a type of specialized cell in connective tissue that contribute to the healing of wounds and the repair of tissue.
Cancer-associated fibroblasts are a significant component in solid tumor cancers. Prior study has found that they can have a major influence on the effectiveness of treatment and also play a role in the development of cancer. This was the first research to reveal the surprising variety of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in skin cancers, such as melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma.
The study observed fibroblasts within the microenvironment of the tumor as well as the ways in which they interacted with other cell types, such as immune cells, mesenchymal cells, and epithelial cells. Through this observation, the team identified three distinct subtypes of fibroblasts:
- Immunomodulatory CAFs (iCAFs)
- Matrix CAFs (mCAFs)
- Myofibroblast-like RGS5+ CAFs
The team also noted that the distribution of the different subtypes changed with the aggressiveness of the tumors. The mCAFs were associated with less aggressive tumors and were commonly found along the tumor-stroma border. These cells also surround the tumor nests and protect it against attacks from the immune system, at least in some cases. Meanwhile iCAFs were associated with aggressive tumors, such as invasive basal cell carcinoma and the highest grades of melanoma. They were found to release signaling factors, such as chemokines and cytokines. These factors can activate immune cells.
Overall, the researchers concluded that iCAFs specifically could be a potential treatment target for a future immunotherapy.
“The targeted treatment of the various CAF subtypes, in particular the immunomodulatory iCAFs, could significantly improve the success of therapy by strengthening the immune response and limiting the spread of tumor cells. These new findings could provide the basis for innovative therapeutic approaches and make skin cancer treatments significantly more effective.” – Beate Lichtenberger, Medical University of Vienna, Department of Dermatology
Check out the original study here.
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Last modified: January 23, 2025
