A functional interplay between non-coding RNAs and cancer-associated fibroblasts in breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Early detection and treatment are essential to improve patient outcomes and reduce mortality. Fibroblasts play a significant role in breast cancer development. Fibroblasts can be activated and influenced by cancer cells, leading to their identification as cancerassociated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are essential for tumor progression. In breast cancer, CAFs, as the main population of the tumor microenvironment, play a vital role and control several biological processes through non-coding RNAs(ncRNA) and signaling pathways. NcRNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), function as epigenetic regulators to control gene expression. Several studies have suggested that ncRNAs interfere in regulating tumor initiation and progression and can be used as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in different cancer types. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that interact between fibroblasts and cancer cells. Exosomes derived from CAFs can influence breast cancer cells. Cancer cellderived exosomes may promote CAF phenotype, and CAF-derived exosomes transport miRNAs, lncRNAs, and several other substances, promoting breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis, making them a potential therapeutic target. Despite little knowledge of the underlying functions of lncRNAs and miRNAs in CAFs, this review investigates how these ncRNAs cross-talk between tumor cells and CAFs.