Review

Tumor microenvironment and breast cancer progression: A complex scenario

Volume 13, Issue 1   January 1, 2012
Pages 14 - 24
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/cbt.13.1.18869
Keywords: angiogenesis, breast cancer, epigenetic, inflammation, matrix metalloproteinases, tumor microenvironment, tumor progression
Authors: Antonia Artacho-Cordón, Francisco Artacho-Cordón, Sandra Ríos-Arrabal, Irene Calvente and María Isabel Núñez

View affiliations

Abstract:
It is now widely accepted that the development and progression of a tumor toward the malignant phenotype is highly dependent on interactions between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. Different components of the tumor microenvironment may have stimulatory or inhibitory effects on tumor progression by regulating the gene expression repertoire in tumor cells and stromal cells.

This review analyzes novel research findings on breast cancer progression, discussing acquisition of the metastatic phenotype in breast disease in relation to different aspects of cross-talk among components of the tumor microenvironment. Knowledge of the interaction of all of these factors would contribute to elucidating the mechanisms that disrupt regulatory/signaling cascades and downstream effects in breast cancer.

Received: August 12, 2011; Accepted: November 28, 2011

Preview:



Comments

Please Log In to comment on this article.
If you do not have an account Create One Here.
blog comments powered by Disqus
Advertisements