Fig. 2
From: The tumor ecosystem in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and advances in ecotherapy
Crosstalk between CAFs and tumor cells in the tumor ecosystem. CAFs can mediate tumor progression and transformation by interacting with tumor cells through secreting multiple chemokines, cytokines, and other effector molecules such as IL-1β, MMP2, EREG. Notably, CAFs can be activated by tumor cells through signals including IL-1β. Abbreviations: BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor; CAF, cancer-associated fibroblast; CCL2, C–C chemokine ligand 2; CSC, cancer stem cell; CXCL12, C-X-C chemokine ligand 12; CXCR2, C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2; ECM, extracellular matrix; Gal-1, galectin-1; HAS2, hyaluronan synthase 2; EREG, epiregulin; HGF, hepatocyte growth factor; IL-1β, interleukin-1β; JAK2-STAT3, janus kinase 2-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; MAPK/AKT, mitogen-activated protein kinase/ protein kinase B; MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; c-Met, cellular-mesenchymal epithelial transition factor; MFAP5, microfibrillar associated protein 5; MMP2, matrix metalloproteinase 2; PTK7, protein tyrosine kinase 7; SOX9, sex determining region Y box 9; TGF-β, transforming growth factor-beta; TIMP1, tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase 1