{
  "abstract": "The tumor microenvironment (TME) represents a complex, dynamic, and heterogeneous system in which stromal and immune elements interact to influence tumor development and mechanisms of immune escape. Within the stromal compartment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been identified as key mediators of immune regulation in the TME. Emerging evidence indicates that CAFs engage in extensive crosstalk with innate immune cell populations—including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), natural killer (NK) cells, mast cells, and dendritic cells (DCs). Through these interactions, CAFs contribute to the establishment and maintenance of an immunosuppressive milieu that supports tumor progression and facilitates immune evasion. This review summarizes the molecular interactions between CAFs and innate immune cells in the TME. It highlights how CAF-derived factors such as IL-6, TGF-β, CXCL12, and CSF-1 regulate immune cell recruitment and polarization, promoting immunosuppression, tumor progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Additionally, feedback signals from immune cells further sustain CAF activation, creating a self-reinforcing immunosuppressive microenvironment. Elucidating these multidirectional interactions offers important insights into tumor biology and identifies promising therapeutic avenues. Targeting CAF-associated signaling pathways or interfering with CAF–immune cell communication may help restore anti-tumor immune responses and improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy strategies.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Pathology, Gomel State Medical University",
    "Department of Prevention and Treatment of Wound Infections, National Medical Research Center of Traumatology and Orthopedics named after R.R. Vreden",
    "Department of Pathologycal Anatomy, North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov",
    "Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia",
    "Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University of Gaza",
    "Department of Radiology and Radiotherapy, Gomel State Medical University",
    "National Molecular Genetics Laboratory of Cancer Research, N.N. Alexandrov National Cancer Center of Belarus",
    "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gomel State Medical University",
    "School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex"
  ],
  "article_type": "review article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Dmitry A. Zinovkin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Yulia S. Korneva"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Heba Mohammed Arafat"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Ohood Mohammed Shamallakh"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Ekaterina S. Zinovkina"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Denis A. Davydov"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Anna S. Portyanko"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Irina I. Slepokurova"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Yulia A. Lyzikova"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Md Zahidul Islam Pranjol"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1ey63mg199dqy.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fimmu.2026.1876751",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13725423/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "1ey63mg199dqy",
  "issns": [
    "1664-3224"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1876751/full",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Mini Review"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2403|Immune cells in cancer"
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  "openalex": "W7222944695",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1876751/pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13725423",
  "pmid": "42974100",
  "published": "2026-10-19",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1ey63mg199dqy.ris",
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    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:17Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fimmu.2026.1876751",
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      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1876751/full"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T15:20:51Z",
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      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13725423"
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    {
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    {
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2403|Immune cells in cancer",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Cancer-associated fibroblasts and innate immune cells: orchestrators of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment",
  "title_text": "Cancer-associated fibroblasts and innate immune cells: orchestrators of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T12:21:42Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1ey63mg199dqy",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Immunology",
  "versions": []
}