Breast Cancer Tumor Stroma: Cellular Components, Phenotypic Heterogeneity, Intercellular Communication, Prognostic Implications and Therapeutic Opportunities

Although the mechanisms underlying the genesis and progression of breast cancer are better understood than ever, it is still the most frequent malignant tumor in women and one of the leading causes of cancer death. Therefore, we need to establish new approaches that lead us to better understand the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancers 2019-05, Vol.11 (5), p.664
Main Authors: Eiro, Noemi, Gonzalez, Luis O, Fraile, María, Cid, Sandra, Schneider, Jose, Vizoso, Francisco J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adipocytes
Angiogenesis
Breast cancer
Breast carcinoma
Cancer therapies
Cell interactions
Cell signaling
Chemokines
Cytokines
Endothelial cells
Epithelial cells
Extracellular matrix
Fibroblasts
Gene expression
Genotype & phenotype
Growth factors
Homeostasis
Immune system
Integrins
Medical prognosis
Mesenchymal stem cells
Mesenchyme
Metastases
Metastasis
Prognosis
Review
Sociology
Stem cells
Stromal cells
Toll-like receptors
Tumors
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Summary:Although the mechanisms underlying the genesis and progression of breast cancer are better understood than ever, it is still the most frequent malignant tumor in women and one of the leading causes of cancer death. Therefore, we need to establish new approaches that lead us to better understand the prognosis of this heterogeneous systemic disease and to propose new therapeutic strategies. Cancer is not only a malignant transformation of the epithelial cells merely based on their autonomous or acquired proliferative capacity. Today, data support the concept of cancer as an ecosystem based on a cellular sociology, with diverse components and complex interactions between them. Among the different cell types that make up the stroma, which have a relevant role in the dynamics of tumor/stromal cell interactions, the main ones are cancer associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells and mesenchymal stromal cells. Several factors expressed by the stroma of breast carcinomas are associated with the development of metastasis, such as matrix metalloproteases, their tissular inhibitors or some of their regulators like integrins, cytokines or toll-like receptors. Based on the expression of these factors, two types of breast cancer stroma can be proposed with significantly different influence on the prognosis of patients. In addition, there is evidence about the existence of bi-directional signals between cancer cells and tumor stroma cells with prognostic implications, suggesting new therapeutic strategies in breast cancer.
ISSN:2072-6694
2072-6694
DOI:10.3390/cancers11050664