Cancer-associated fibroblast
Cancer-associated fibroblast
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) (pronunciation: /ˈkænsər əˈsoʊʃieɪtɪd ˈfaɪbroʊblæsts/) are a type of cell that are present within the tumor microenvironment.
Etymology
The term "cancer-associated fibroblast" is derived from the words "cancer", which comes from the Latin cancer meaning "crab", "associated", which comes from the Latin associare meaning "to unite", and "fibroblast", which is derived from the Greek words fibra meaning "fiber" and blastos meaning "germ".
Definition
Cancer-associated fibroblasts are a type of fibroblast that have been shown to play a critical role in cancer progression. They are often found in the stroma of tumors and have been implicated in promoting tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis.
Related Terms
- Tumor microenvironment: The environment around a tumor, including the surrounding blood vessels, immune cells, fibroblasts, and other cells.
- Fibroblast: A type of cell that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen, the structural framework for animal tissues, and plays a critical role in wound healing.
- Stroma: The part of a tissue or organ with a supportive or connective role, that is made up of nonparenchymal cells and connective tissues.
- Metastasis: The spread of a cancer or other disease from one organ or part of the body to another without being directly connected with it.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cancer-associated fibroblast
- Wikipedia's article - Cancer-associated fibroblast
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