[Interaction of cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor cells in carcinogenesis].

OBJECTIVE: Tumor microenvironment is composed of mesenchymal cells and extracellular matrix components, which plays an important role in the growth, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Characteristic changes of stroma are usually accompanied with the malignant transformation of epithelial cells even ahead. The key component in the process-activated fibroblasts, also known as myofibroblasts, or cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), is the most abundant cells in tumor stroma. They promote the malignant transformation of epithelial cells through cell-cell communication via various soluble factors. This article reviews cancer-associated fibroblasts and their role in tumor development.