Table 2 List of CAF subpopulations and biomarkers newly identified
CAF subsets | Biomarkers | Tumor tissues | Signatures/functions | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
pan-CAF | CD49e | Ovarian cancer | [23] | |
myCAF | α-SMAhighIL-6low; RGS5 | PDAC; TNBC; bladder cancer | Myofibroblast-like; matrix deposition; | |
iCAF | α-SMAlowIL-6high; PDGFR; CXCL12; Ly6c1high; FBLN1 | PDAC; TNBC; bladder cancer; ICC | Inflammatory infiltration; chemokines and cytokines secretion; tumor-promoting | |
apCAF | MHC-II gene; CD74 | PDAC; TNBC; ICC | Antigen presenting; immunomodulation | |
vCAF | MCAM; IL-6 | ICC | Response to hypoxia; mesenchymal cell proliferation | [59] |
mCAF | POSTN; COL5A1 | ECM; collagen fibril organization | ||
EMT-like CAF | KRT19 | Epithelium-like | ||
vCAF | Nidogen-2 | Breast cancer | Vascular development; angiogenesis | [60] |
mCAF | Fibulin-1; PDGFRα | ECM and EMT | ||
developmental CAF | SCRG1 | Differentiation of cells; development and morphogenesis of tissues | ||
CAF-A | MMP2; DCN; COL1A2 | Colorectal cancer | ECM remodeling | [61] |
CAF-B | α-SMA; TAGCN; PDGFA | Myofibroblast-like | ||
CAF-cluster2 | CDK1 | TNBC | Cell cycling | [58] |
CAF-cluster3 | CD53 | Structural integrity and function of muscle | ||
CAF-cluster4 | CRABP1 | Basement membrane protease associated | ||
Immunomodulatory CAF | IL-6; IL-10; C1QA/B/C; CFB; CXCL1/2/10/12 | HGSOC | Immunomodulation | [62] |
CAF-S1/S4 | CD29; FAP; α-SMA; FSP1; PDGFRβ; CAV1 | Breast cancer; ovarian cancer | Immunomodulation; myCAFs and iCAFs | |
CAF-S2/S3 | Not activated | |||
CD10+GPR77+ CAFs | CD10; GPR77 | Breast and lung cancer | Promoting cancer formation and chemoresistance | [54] |