Dr. Andrei Turtoi
Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier
Inserm U1194 – Université Montpellier
Institut du Cancer de Montpellier
Head of Tumor Microenvironment and Resistance to Treatment Lab

 

While being one of the major cell populations in tumors, with established tumor-promoting roles, cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) are not considered in current cancer therapy. Attempts to target CAF have failed in clinical studies, where paradoxical results of accelerated tumor progression have been observed. For at least three decades, the tumor-suppressing functions of cancer-associated fibroblast have been largely overlooked. While convincing evidence has been mounting, CAF tumor-suppressing functions have only recently been well recognized. Indeed, with the advent of single-cell technologies, we have come to appreciate, in a very evident way, the functional heterogeneity of CAF in solid tumors. Today, the discussion has shifted from targeting all CAF to targeting specific CAF populations. In my talk, I will address CAF tumor-suppressing functions from the perspective of our own work in the field, and especially focus on the new pitfalls.

Contact GIGA : Arnaud Blomme