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Table 2 Application of CAFs-related markers in clinical solid cancer immunity

From: Roles of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in anti- PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy for solid cancers

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