Many similarities exist between the stroma at sites of wound repair and rea
ctive stroma in cancer. Common features include an elevated stromal cell pr
oliferation, altered expression of matrix components, elevated expression o
f TGF beta-1, neovascularization, and expression of several common stromal
markers. In addition, proliferative stromal cells at these sites generally
express myodifferentiation markers. A comparison between the many common fe
atures and the biologically active molecules observed in reactive stroma in
carcinoma and reactive stroma in wound repair is discussed in this review.
An extended analysis of the literature suggests a functional link between
mechanisms in wound repair response and the stromal reaction in many cancer
s including prostate cancer. We propose in this review, that the fundamenta
l mechanisms of stroma in providing a rapid response to altered homeostasis
in wounding, also provides for a tumor-regulating stromal microenvironment
in cancer. The functional consequences of this stromal response to carcino
ma progression and how the stromal response might be used in extended diagn
osis and in therapeutic approaches are discussed.