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 language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 71-82 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Breast cancer
- Collagen
- Fibronectin
- Matrix-turnover
- Metastasis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research