Stromal cell

Stromal cells are the essential connective tissue cells that form the structural framework of organs and tissues, distinct from the functional parenchymal cells (National Cancer Institute, 2023). This heterogeneous population includes fibroblasts, pericytes, mesenchymal stem cells, and immune cells, which are responsible for secreting the extracellular matrix (ECM) and providing biochemical cues for tissue homeostasis (Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2020). In pathological states such as cancer, stromal cells are often activated into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which remodel the tumor microenvironment to support malignancy, angiogenesis, and immune evasion (Journal of Hematology & Oncology, 2021). While not a single molecular target, the stroma is a major focus of therapeutic intervention, particularly in desmoplastic tumors like pancreatic cancer and in chronic fibrotic diseases (Science Translational Medicine, 2019). Drugs targeting the stroma often aim to inhibit specific signaling pathways, such as TGF-beta, or deplete specific cell populations like FAP-positive cells to improve drug delivery and anti-tumor immunity (Clinical Cancer Research, 2022).

Other names

Connective tissue cellMesenchymal cellSupportive tissue cellStroma

Modulation of the tumor microenvironment, inhibition of fibroblast activation, and degradation of extracellular matrix components.