Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Diversity Shapes Tumor Metabolism in Pancreatic Cancer

Simple Summary Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent an important stromal cell population of pancreatic cancer in which multiple CAF subtypes have been identified. CAFs engage in a bidirectional crosstalk with cancer cells, continuously adapting their metabolism to external factors, such as chemotherapy. In this review, we summarize recently identified CAF subtypes in pancreatic cancer and discuss how CAFs shape cancer cell metabolism through several mechanisms, notably metabolite exchange, paracrine signaling, desmoplasia/hypoxia and acidosis. Despite extensive research, the 5-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer (PDAC) patients remains at only 9%. Patients often show poor treatment response, due partly to a highly complex tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) heterogeneity is characteristic of the pancreatic TME, where several CAF subpopulations have been identified, such as myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs), inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs), and antigen presenting CAFs (apCAFs). In PDAC, cancer cells continuously adapt their metabolism (metabolic switch) to environmental changes in pH, oxygenation, and nutrient availability. Recent advances show that these environmental alterations are all heavily driven by stromal CAFs. CAFs and cancer cells exchange cytokines and metabolites, engaging in a tight bidirectional crosstalk, which promotes tumor aggressiveness and allows constant adaptation to external stress, such as chemotherapy. In this review, we summarize CAF diversity and CAF-mediated metabolic rewiring, in a PDAC-specific context. First, we recapitulate the most recently identified CAF subtypes, focusing on the cell of origin, activation mechanism, species-dependent markers, and functions. Next, we describe in detail the metabolic crosstalk between CAFs and tumor cells. Additionally, we elucidate how CAF-driven paracrine signaling, desmoplasia, and acidosis orchestrate cancer cell metabolism. Finally, we highlight how the CAF/cancer cell crosstalk could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies.

Automated summary

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a critical role in pancreatic cancer by influencing cancer cell metabolism through various mechanisms. CAF heterogeneity is characteristic of the pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Environmental changes in pH, oxygenation, and nutrient availability are heavily driven by stromal CAFs. The bidirectional crosstalk between CAFs and cancer cells promotes tumor aggressiveness and adaptation to external stress. This review summarizes the diversity of CAF subtypes, the metabolic crosstalk between CAFs and tumor cells, and the role of CAF-driven signaling, desmoplasia, and acidosis in cancer cell metabolism, highlighting potential therapeutic strategies.