Microenvironment of the involuting mammary gland mediates mammary cancer progression

Pepper Schedin, Jenean O'Brien, Michael Rudolph, Torsten Stein, Virginia Borges

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

118 Scopus citations

Abstract

Breast cancer diagnosed after a completed pregnancy has higher metastatic potential and therefore a much poorer prognosis. We hypothesize that following pregnancy the process of mammary gland involution, which returns the gland to its pre-pregnant state, co-opts some of the programs of wound healing. The pro-inflammatory milieu that results, while physiologically normal, promotes tumor progression. In this review, the similarities between mammary gland involution after cessation of milk-production and pathological tissue remodeling are discussed in light of emerging data demonstrating a role for pathological tissue remodeling in cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)71-82
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Breast cancer
  • Collagen
  • Fibronectin
  • Matrix-turnover
  • Metastasis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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