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Abstract

Ovarian cancer remains a formidable challenge in oncology, characterized by its aggressive nature and propensity for metastasis. The omental microenvironment, enriched with fibroblasts, emerges as a critical determinant of tumor progression in ovarian cancer. Fibroblasts, traditionally recognized for their structural role, undergo phenotypic alterations in response to tumor-derived cues, transforming into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). In this review, we delineate the multifaceted roles of CAFs in promoting ovarian cancer aggressiveness. Activated CAFs remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM), facilitating cancer cell invasion and metastasis through ECM degradation and deposition of pro-migratory proteins. Additionally, CAFs secrete a plethora of growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines, fostering a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment that sustains cancer cell proliferation, survival, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, CAFs contribute to immune evasion by recruiting immunosuppressive cells to the tumor milieu. Targeting the interactions between fibroblasts and cancer cells represents a promising therapeutic strategy in ovarian cancer