Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Meidan Wang , University of Freiburg, Germany. The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author s and the copyright owner s are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice.
No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Fibroblasts are versatile cells that play a major role in wound healing by synthesizing and remodeling the extracellular matrix ECM. In cancers, fibroblasts play an expanded role in tumor progression and dissemination, immunosuppression, and metabolic support of cancer cells. In prostate cancer PCa , fibroblasts have been shown to induce growth and increase metastatic potential.
To further understand differences in the functions of human PCa associated fibroblasts PCAFs compared to normal prostate fibroblasts PFs , we investigated the metabolic profile and ECM degradation characteristics of PFs and PCAFs using a magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy compatible intact cell perfusion assay. Our data suggest that PCAFs may not directly induce ECM degradation to assist in tumor dissemination, but may instead create an immune suppressive tumor microenvironment that further increases under hypoxic conditions.
Keywords: fibroblast, hypoxia, metabolism, prostate cancer, cancer associated fibroblast, PD-L1. Most PCa-related deaths are due to advanced metastatic disease. Furthermore, despite recent advances in cancer therapies, PCa mortality rates have not declined, highlighting the importance of developing therapeutic alternatives. The successes with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments observed in some cancers have also not been replicated in PCa Noori et al.
An expanded understanding of the facilitators of PCa cell invasion and immune suppression can provide novel targets in preventing PCa progression and metastasis Brennen et al. Fibroblasts are one of the most ubiquitous cells in connective tissue, playing a crucial role in extracellular matrix ECM synthesis and remodeling, collagen production and wound healing Chen et al.
