Tumor Mechanism in Immune System Evasion:Exosomes and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

Overview

It is evident that Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) are key regulators of the immune system to assist the tumor in immune evasion, however, little research has been conducted on the mechanisms of exosomes and CAFs in assisting tumor evasion of the immune system. Since it is known that CAFs aid the tumor in influencing stromal cells’ functions and that exosomes initiate communication between the tumor and other cells, it was hypothesized that cancers secreted exosomes to convert fibroblasts to CAFs, specifically through changes in protein expressions. Through an analysis of transwells and western blotting, it was discovered that exosomes were secreted from cancers to change protein expressions in fibroblasts to induce CAF activation, mainly through downregulation of α-smooth muscle actin and upregulation of vimentin (common cancer-associated proteins). This discovery is significant as these proteins can be targeted in the developing more effective treatments to prevent immunosuppressive responses and metastasis from the tumor.

Competition history

• AJAS 2020 Category not listed

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