Activation of fibroblasts in skin cancer.

Abstract Fibroblasts have emerged as a dominant component of the tumour microenvironment, but despite the surging interest in the activation of fibroblasts and their role in cancer, they remain an elusive and complex cell-type. In this perspective, we discuss the phenotypic plasticity of cancer-associated fibroblasts in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer identified by genome-wide transcriptomic studies and focus on the molecular pathways underlying their activation. These studies reveal distinct fibroblast activation profiles depending on tumour type and stage. A better understanding of skin CAF heterogeneity in origin and function will guide novel therapeutic approaches targetting this cell-type in clinical cancer care.