Classifying cancer-associated fibroblasts-The good, the bad, and the target.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are heterogeneous and ubiquitous stromal cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Numerous CAF types have been described, typically using single-cell technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing. There is no general classification system for CAFs, hampering their study and therapeutic targeting. We propose a simple CAF classification system based on single-cell phenotypes and spatial locations of CAFs in multiple cancer types, assess how our scheme fits within current knowledge, and invite the CAF research community to further refine it.
Competing Interests: Declaration of interests B.B. has co-founded and is a shareholder and member of the board of Navignostics, a precision oncology spin-off from the University of Zurich.
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