Impairment of a distinct cancer-associated fibroblast population limits tumour growth and metastasis

Ute Jungwirth, Antoinette van Weverwijk, Rachel J Evans, Liam Jenkins, David Vicente, John Alexander, Qiong Gao, Syed Haider, Marjan Iravani, Clare M Isacke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Profiling studies have revealed considerable phenotypic heterogeneity in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) present within the tumour microenvironment, however, functional characterisation of different CAF subsets is hampered by the lack of specific markers defining these populations. Here we show that genetic deletion of the Endo180 (MRC2) receptor, predominantly expressed by a population of matrix-remodelling CAFs, profoundly limits tumour growth and metastasis; effects that can be recapitulated in 3D co-culture assays. This impairment results from a CAF-intrinsic contractility defect and reduced CAF viability, which coupled with the lack of phenotype in the normal mouse, demonstrates that upregulated Endo180 expression by a specific, potentially targetable CAF subset is required to generate a supportive tumour microenvironment. Further, characterisation of a tumour subline selected via serial in vivo passage for its ability to overcome these stromal defects provides important insight into, how tumour cells adapt to a non-activated stroma in the early stages of metastatic colonisation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3516
Number of pages17
JournalNature Communications
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Jun 2021

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