18.07.2023The Bodenmiller group publishes a cancer-associated fibroblast classification scheme

See Cords et al., Nature Communications

In this work, the Bodenmiller group defined cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) phenotypes by analysing a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset of over 16,000 stromal cells from tumours of 14 breast cancer patients, based on which nine CAF phenotypes and one class of pericytes were defined and functionally annotated. Next, the classification system was validated in four additional cancer types and highly multiplexed imaging mass cytometry was used on matched breast cancer samples to confirm the defined CAF phenotypes at the protein level and to analyse their spatial distribution within tumours. This general CAF classification scheme will allow comparison of CAF phenotypes across studies, facilitate analysis of their functional roles, and potentially guide development of new treatment strategies in the future.