A review concerning the breast cancer-related tumour microenvironment

• Published in: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology Vol. 199; p. 104389
• Main Authors: Rodríguez-Bejarano, Oscar Hernán, Parra-López, Carlos, Patarroyo, Manuel Alfonso
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.07.2024
• Subjects: Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - etiology; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Cell heterogeneity; Clinical trials; Disease Progression; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Extracellular Matrix - pathology; Female; Humans; Resistance to therapy; Tumor Microenvironment; Tumour microenvironment; Tumour progression; Tumour progression; Clinical trials; Breast cancer; Resistance to therapy; Cell heterogeneity; Tumour microenvironment
• ISSN: 1040-8428; 1879-0461; 1879-0461
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104389

Breast cancer (BC) is currently the most common malignant tumour in women and one of the leading causes of their death around the world. New and increasingly personalised diagnostic and therapeutic tools have been introduced over the last few decades, along with significant advances regarding the study and knowledge related to BC. The tumour microenvironment (TME) refers to the tumour cell-associated cellular and molecular environment which can influence conditions affecting tumour development and progression. The TME is composed of immune cells, stromal cells, extracellular matrix (ECM) and signalling molecules secreted by these different cell types. Ever deeper understanding of TME composition changes during tumour development and progression will enable new and more innovative therapeutic strategies to become developed for targeting tumours during specific stages of its evolution. This review summarises the role of BC-related TME components and their influence on tumour progression and the development of resistance to therapy. In addition, an account on the modifications in BC-related TME components associated with therapy is given, and the completed or ongoing clinical trials related to this topic are presented. •Tumour microenvironment refers to the cellular and molecular environment affecting tumour development and progression.•Updated and comprehensive review about this subject.•Immune cells, stromal cells, extracellular matrix (ECM) and signalling molecules are reviewed.