Table 2.
Application of CAFs-related markers in clinical solid cancer immunity
| Type of effect | Marker | Immune resistance mechanisms | Clinical application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double effect | α-SMA | Pro-tumor: promote immunosuppressive microenvironment; Anti-cancer: deletion inhibits immune surveillance and reduces survival | Prognostic indicator |
| Tumor-promoting | FAP | Promote cancer cell proliferation, invasion, treatment resistance |
Preclinical experiments have mixed results, prognostic indicator |
| TGF-β | Limit T cell infiltration and suppress antitumor immunity | TGF-β blockade sensitizes anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy and LRRC15 may serve as a prognostic marker | |
| FGF, PDGF, VEGF | Recruit immunosuppressive cells, promote immune evasion | Nintedanib (BIBF1120) has been used in the clinical trial phase in lung adenocarcinoma | |
| WNT 2 | Disrupting cancer immune surveillance, tumor immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance | Antibodies, inhibitors, activators have been developed and are in clinical trials | |
| Tumor-suppressing | Meflin | Negatively correlated with tumor progression | Prognostic potential markers |
| VCAN | Inhibits fibroblast proliferation and promotes tumor growth | Potential markers |