Abstract
Accumulated evidence has demonstrated that the microenvironment of a given tumor is important in determining its drug resistance, tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis. These microenvironments, like tumor cells, are vital targets for cancer therapy. The cross-talk between tumor cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs, alternatively termed activated fibroblasts) is crucial in regulating the drug resistance, tumorigenesis, neoplastic progression, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis of a tumor. Fibroblast activation protein α (FAPα) is a transmembrane serine protease and is highly expressed on CAFs present in >90% of human epithelial neoplasms. FAPα activity, alongside that of gelatinase and type I collagenase, has become increasingly important in cancer therapy due to its effectiveness in modulating tumor behavior. In this review, recent progression in the knowledge of the role of FAPα in tumor microenvironments is discussed.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
-
Review
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
-
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
-
Endopeptidases
-
Enzyme Activation
-
Fibroblasts / metabolism
-
Fibroblasts / pathology
-
Gelatinases / antagonists & inhibitors
-
Gelatinases / chemistry
-
Gelatinases / genetics
-
Gelatinases / metabolism*
-
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
-
Humans
-
Membrane Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
-
Membrane Proteins / chemistry
-
Membrane Proteins / genetics
-
Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
-
Molecular Targeted Therapy
-
Neoplasm Staging
-
Neoplasms / drug therapy
-
Neoplasms / genetics
-
Neoplasms / metabolism*
-
Neoplasms / mortality
-
Neoplasms / pathology*
-
Prognosis
-
Serine Endopeptidases / chemistry
-
Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
-
Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
-
Substrate Specificity
-
Tumor Microenvironment* / genetics
Substances
-
Membrane Proteins
-
Endopeptidases
-
Serine Endopeptidases
-
fibroblast activation protein alpha
-
Gelatinases