Immune Microenvironment in Breast Cancer Metastasis

Bin-Zhi Qian; Ruo-Yu Ma

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-70875-6_20

Immune Microenvironment in Breast Cancer Metastasis

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2025:1464:413-432. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-70875-6_20.

Authors

Bin-Zhi Qian¹, Ruo-Yu Ma²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Zhangjiang-Fudan International Innovation Center, Shanghai Medical College, The Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. qianbinzhi@fudan.edu.cn.
² Department of Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Zhangjiang-Fudan International Innovation Center, Shanghai Medical College, The Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

PMID: 39821036
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-70875-6_20

Abstract

Metastatic disease is the final stage of breast cancer that accounts for vast majority of patient death. Mounting data over recent years strongly support the critical roles of the immune microenvironment in determining breast cancer metastasis. The latest single-cell studies provide further molecular evidence illustrating the heterogeneity of this immune microenvironment. This chapter summarizes major discoveries on the role of various immune cells in metastasis progression and discusses future research opportunities. Studies investigating immune heterogeneity within primary breast cancer and across different metastasis target organs can potentially lead to more precise treatment strategies with improved efficacy.

Keywords: Immune microenvironment; Metastasis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Breast Neoplasms* / immunology
Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
Female
Humans
Neoplasm Metastasis* / immunology
Tumor Microenvironment* / immunology