Human Pathology (2014) xx, xxx
www.elsevier.com/locate/humpath
Correspondence
Fibroblast activation protein, a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for cancer To the Editor, Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) has long been known to be expressed in the stroma of cancer. Park et al [1] suggested that the specific and consistent expression of FAP could play an important role in the formation, remodeling, or maintenance of tumors. However, the relationship between FAP expression and tumors is still unclear. Recently, we read with great interest the article entitled “Fibroblast activation protein expression by stromal cells and tumor-associated macrophages in human breast cancer,” which indicated that the expression of FAP was abundantly shown in the stroma across all breast cancer subtypes and demonstrated that the expression of FAP could be regulated by human breast tumor–associated macrophages [2]. These findings suggest that FAP might play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer and that FAP also might be a potential targetable molecule in the treatment of breast cancer. Interestingly, Cai et al [3] also reported that the FAP, which was targeted by short hairpin RNA, could inhibit tumor growth and improve tumor microenvironment in a mouse model. They showed that short hairpin RNA targeting of FAP in murine breast cancer reduced the expression of FAP and inhibited tumor growth. Moreover, they suggested that targeted FAP might represent a supplementary therapy for breast cancer [3]. Furthermore, Yuan et al [4] found that, in osteosarcoma, the most common primary solid tumor of the bone, the messenger RNA and protein expression of FAP both were higher than in corresponding noncancerous bone tissues. In addition, they demonstrated that FAP could be adopted as a candidate biomarker in osteosarcoma. Thus, they suggested that FAP might play a role in diagnosis and treatment of tumor development and progression in osteosarcoma [4]. Another recent study, by Schuberth et al [5], showed that FAP was expressed in all subtypes of malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare solid organ tumor, and that FAP-specific redirected T cells could be used for the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
0046-8177/© 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
In summary, these aforementioned studies demonstrate that the expression of FAP is verified in many tumor tissues and suggest a potential role for FAP in cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, further studies need to comprehensively extend the role of FAP in cancer. Xiang Lin Cheng Huang Lingna Kong Yong He Dexi Zhou School of Pharmacy Anhui Key Laboratory of Bioactivity of Natural Products Institute for Liver Diseases Anhui Medical University Hefei, 230032, China Jun Li School of Pharmacy Anhui Medical University Hefei, Anhui Province, 230032, China
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.humpath.2013.11.023
References [1] Park JE, Lenter MC, Zimmermann RN, Garin-Chesa P, Old LJ, Rettig WJ. Fibroblast activation protein, a dual specificity serine protease expressed in reactive human tumor stromal fibroblasts. The J Biol Chem 1999;274:36505-12. [2] Tchou J, Zhang PJ, Bi Y, et al. Fibroblast activation protein expression by stromal cells and tumor-associated macrophages in human breast cancer. HUM PATHOL 2013;44:2549-57. [3] Cai F, Li Z, Wang C, et al. Short hairpin RNA targeting of fibroblast activation protein inhibits tumor growth and improves the tumor microenvironment in a mouse model. BMB Rep 2013;46:252-7. [4] Yuan D, Liu B, Liu K, Zhu G, Dai Z, Xie Y. Overexpression of fibroblast activation protein and its clinical implications in patients with osteosarcoma. J Surg Oncol 2013;108:157-62. [5] Schuberth PC, Hagedorn C, Jensen SM, et al. Treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma by fibroblast activation protein–specific redirected T cells. J Transl Med 2013;11:187.
www.elsevier.com/locate/humpath
Correspondence
Fibroblast activation protein, a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for cancer To the Editor, Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) has long been known to be expressed in the stroma of cancer. Park et al [1] suggested that the specific and consistent expression of FAP could play an important role in the formation, remodeling, or maintenance of tumors. However, the relationship between FAP expression and tumors is still unclear. Recently, we read with great interest the article entitled “Fibroblast activation protein expression by stromal cells and tumor-associated macrophages in human breast cancer,” which indicated that the expression of FAP was abundantly shown in the stroma across all breast cancer subtypes and demonstrated that the expression of FAP could be regulated by human breast tumor–associated macrophages [2]. These findings suggest that FAP might play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer and that FAP also might be a potential targetable molecule in the treatment of breast cancer. Interestingly, Cai et al [3] also reported that the FAP, which was targeted by short hairpin RNA, could inhibit tumor growth and improve tumor microenvironment in a mouse model. They showed that short hairpin RNA targeting of FAP in murine breast cancer reduced the expression of FAP and inhibited tumor growth. Moreover, they suggested that targeted FAP might represent a supplementary therapy for breast cancer [3]. Furthermore, Yuan et al [4] found that, in osteosarcoma, the most common primary solid tumor of the bone, the messenger RNA and protein expression of FAP both were higher than in corresponding noncancerous bone tissues. In addition, they demonstrated that FAP could be adopted as a candidate biomarker in osteosarcoma. Thus, they suggested that FAP might play a role in diagnosis and treatment of tumor development and progression in osteosarcoma [4]. Another recent study, by Schuberth et al [5], showed that FAP was expressed in all subtypes of malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare solid organ tumor, and that FAP-specific redirected T cells could be used for the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
0046-8177/© 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
In summary, these aforementioned studies demonstrate that the expression of FAP is verified in many tumor tissues and suggest a potential role for FAP in cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, further studies need to comprehensively extend the role of FAP in cancer. Xiang Lin Cheng Huang Lingna Kong Yong He Dexi Zhou School of Pharmacy Anhui Key Laboratory of Bioactivity of Natural Products Institute for Liver Diseases Anhui Medical University Hefei, 230032, China Jun Li School of Pharmacy Anhui Medical University Hefei, Anhui Province, 230032, China
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.humpath.2013.11.023
References [1] Park JE, Lenter MC, Zimmermann RN, Garin-Chesa P, Old LJ, Rettig WJ. Fibroblast activation protein, a dual specificity serine protease expressed in reactive human tumor stromal fibroblasts. The J Biol Chem 1999;274:36505-12. [2] Tchou J, Zhang PJ, Bi Y, et al. Fibroblast activation protein expression by stromal cells and tumor-associated macrophages in human breast cancer. HUM PATHOL 2013;44:2549-57. [3] Cai F, Li Z, Wang C, et al. Short hairpin RNA targeting of fibroblast activation protein inhibits tumor growth and improves the tumor microenvironment in a mouse model. BMB Rep 2013;46:252-7. [4] Yuan D, Liu B, Liu K, Zhu G, Dai Z, Xie Y. Overexpression of fibroblast activation protein and its clinical implications in patients with osteosarcoma. J Surg Oncol 2013;108:157-62. [5] Schuberth PC, Hagedorn C, Jensen SM, et al. Treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma by fibroblast activation protein–specific redirected T cells. J Transl Med 2013;11:187.
