Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are pivotal regulators of the tumor microenvironment (TME), driving malignancy through extracellular matrix remodeling, paracrine and metabolic crosstalk, angiogenesis, fibrosis, and immune suppression. Emerging single-cell and spatial multi-omics have revealed CAF heterogeneity and plasticity, with subtypes such as myofibroblastic, inflammatory, antigen-presenting, and metabolic CAFs exerting context-dependent functions that can either promote or restrain tumor growth. This duality cautions against indiscriminate stromal ablation and highlights the need for precision strategies. CAFs also mediate resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted agents, and immunotherapy by creating physical and biochemical barriers and fostering immune exclusion. Therapeutic approaches span depletion strategies, pathway inhibitors, and stromal reprogramming using vitamin D receptor agonists, retinoids, and epigenetic modulators, often in combination with immunotherapies. However, CAF plasticity and the lack of exclusive markers remain major challenges. This review positions CAFs as dynamic regulators of cancer hallmarks and argues for a paradigm shift toward precision stromal oncology, where the trajectory from CAF depletion to CAF reprogramming and CAF-guided combinatorial therapies reshapes cancer treatment itself.

Prenatal diagnosis is a vital component of maternal–fetal medicine, enabling early detection of genetic, chromosomal, and structural anomalies with increasing accuracy. Over recent decades, diagnostic methods have evolved from traditional invasive procedures to advanced non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), high-resolution imaging, and integrated multi-omics platforms, substantially improving diagnostic precision while minimizing risks to both mother and fetus. This systematic review, based on an analysis of over 400 research articles and reviews, comprehensively examines technological advancements alongside the concurrent development of regulatory frameworks shaping prenatal diagnostics. The findings underscore that while technology advances rapidly, ensuring reliability, clinical validity, and safety remains critical. Regulatory frameworks, especially the European Union’s Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR), serve as fundamental standards that diagnostic device manufacturers must comply with to balance innovation with ethical responsibilities, patient safety, and public trust. In conclusion, revolutionary advancements in prenatal diagnostic technologies have made early screening more precise, accessible, and patient-friendly. Adherence to evolving regulations mitigates ethical concerns and safeguards diagnostic efficacy, ultimately enabling safer prenatal diagnosis, facilitating informed pregnancy management decisions, and reducing emotional and financial burdens on expectant families.