Figure 1.

CAF component of TME plays a critical role in promoting tumorigenesis and determines tumor fate in solid tumors. The relationship between TME components (CAF compartment, immune compartment, and vascular compartment; as represented in oval shapes), TME functions (as represented in a square), and tumor end-points (as illustrated in hexagonal shapes) are diagrammatically presented. The diagram is presented in three layers. The top layer presents three TME components, the middle layer presents various functions of the CAF compartment, immune compartment, and vascular compartment in an established tumor, and the bottom layer presents tumor end-points. In an established tumor, TME influences (1) tumor growth and proliferation, (2) metastasis-associated phenotypes and EMT, (3) tumor-associated stemness, (4) tumor-associated stromagenesis, (5) evasion of immune surveillance, and (6) tumor-induced angiogenesis. The immune component is involved in the evasion of immune surveillance of the tumor cells (violet arrow), while the vascular component is involved in tumor-induced angiogenesis and thus influences metastasis-associated phenotypes (Green Arrow). Unlike the other two components of TME, it is noteworthy that the CAF component of TME plays a critical role in promoting every function of TME (orange arrow). Black arrows connect various functions of TME with tumor end-points. The diagram attempts to visualize how CAF influences tumor end-points, which in turn determines the clinical outcome of a disease. Tumorigenesis may lead to metastatic progression (single arrow) and/or may exhibit resistance to drug (double arrow), leading to a dismal clinical outcome.