Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) significantly influence biological properties of many tumors. The role of these mesenchymal cells is also anticipated in human gliomas. To evaluate the putative role of CAFs in glioblastoma, we tested the effect of CAF conditioned media on the proliferation and chemotaxis of glioma cells. The proliferation of glioma cells was stimulated to similar extent by both the normal fibroblasts (NFs) and CAF-conditioned media. Nevertheless, CAF-conditioned media enhanced the chemotactic migration of glioma cells significantly more potently than the media from normal fibroblasts. In order to determine whether CAF-like cells are present in human glioblastomas, immunofluorescence staining was performed on tissue samples from 20 patients using markers typical for CAFs. This analysis revealed regular presence of mesenchymal cells expressing characteristic CAF markers α-smooth muscle actin and TE-7 in human glioblastomas. These observations indicate the potential role of CAF-like cells in glioblastoma biology.

These results underline special features at each site of specimen origin as well as the importance of analyzing galectins as a network and of defining the expression status of the individual patient prior to reaching clinically relevant conclusions.

Melanoma represents a malignant disease with steadily increasing incidence. UV-irradiation is a recognized key factor in melanoma initiation. Therefore, the efficient prevention of UV tissue damage bears a critical potential for melanoma prevention. In this study, we tested the effect of UV irradiation of normal keratinocytes and their consequent interaction with normal and cancer-associated fibroblasts isolated from melanoma, respectively. Using this model of UV influenced microenvironment, we measured melanoma cell migration in 3-D collagen gels. These interactions were studied using DNA microarray technology, immunofluorescence staining, single cell electrophoresis assay, viability (dead/life) cell detection methods, and migration analysis. We observed that three 10 mJ/cm fractions at equal intervals over 72 h applied on keratinocytes lead to a 50% increase (p < 0.05) in in vitro invasion of melanoma cells. The introduction cancer-associated fibroblasts to such model further significantly stimulated melanoma cells in vitro invasiveness to a higher extent than normal fibroblasts. A panel of candidate gene products responsible for facilitation of melanoma cells invasion was defined with emphasis on IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL-1. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a synergistic effect between cancer microenvironment and UV irradiation in melanoma invasiveness under in vitro condition.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a role in the progression of malignant tumors. They are formed by conversion of fibroblasts to smooth muscle α-actin-positive (SMA-positive) myofibroblasts. Polyamines are known to change the arrangement of the actin cytoskeleton by binding to the anionic actin. We tested the effect of the synthetic polyamine BPA-C8 on the transition of human dermal fibroblasts to myofibroblasts induced either by TGF-β1 alone or by TGF-β1 together with adhesion/growth-regulatory galectin-1. Pre-existing CAFs, myofibroblasts from pancreatitis, and rat smooth muscle cells were also exposed to BPA-C8. BPA-C8 impaired myofibroblast formation from activated fibroblasts, but it had no effect on cells already expressing SMA. BPA-C8 also reduced the occurrence of an extracellular matrix around the activated fibroblasts. The reported data thus extend current insights into polyamine activity, adding interference with tumor progression to the tumor-promoting processes warranting study.

The presented data reveal marked and specific changes in tumors and MSR specimens of HNSCC without a separation based on prognosis.