Cited by 43Cancer Cells and MetastasisBreast Cancer Treatment StudiesCellular Mechanics and Interactions

An “elite hacker”: breast tumors exploit the normal microenvironment program to instruct their progression and biological diversity

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Boudreau, Aaron, van't Veer, Laura J., Bissell, Mina J.·2012·Cell Adhesion & Migration

Abstract

The year 2011 marked the 40 year anniversary of Richard Nixon signing the National Cancer Act, thus declaring the beginning of the "War on Cancer" in the United States. Whereas we have made tremendous progress toward understanding the genetics of tumors in the past four decades, and in developing enabling technology to dissect the molecular underpinnings of cancer at unprecedented resolution, it is only recently that the important role of the stromal microenvironment has been studied in detail. Cancer is a tissue-specific disease, and it is becoming clear that much of what we know about breast cancer progression parallels the biology of the normal breast differentiation, of which there is still much to learn. In particular, the normal breast and breast tumors share molecular, cellular, systemic and microenvironmental influences necessary for their progression. It is therefore enticing to consider a tumor to be a "rogue hacker"--one who exploits the weaknesses of a normal program for personal benefit. Understanding normal mammary gland biology and its "security vulnerabilities" may thus leave us better equipped to target breast cancer. In this review, we will provide a brief overview of the heterotypic cellular and molecular interactions within the microenvironment of the developing mammary gland that are necessary for functional differentiation, provide evidence suggesting that similar biology--albeit imbalanced and exaggerated--is observed in breast cancer progression particularly during the transition from carcinoma in situ to invasive disease. Lastly we will present evidence suggesting that the multigene signatures currently used to model cancer heterogeneity and clinical outcome largely reflect signaling from a heterogeneous microenvironment-a recurring theme that could potentially be exploited therapeutically.

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Crossref · 10.4161/cam.20880

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  • An extensive body of experimental data indicates that remodeling of the extracellular matrix promotes cancer invasion and metastasis.

    “There is an extensive body of experimental data indicating that remodeling of the ECM promotes cancer invasion and metastasis [42, 43].”

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Authors
Boudreau, A., van't Veer, L. J., & Bissell, M. J.
Affiliations
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
Corresponding author
  • Boudreau, Aaron
  • Bissell, Mina J.
Venue
Cell Adhesion & Migration
Published
2012-05
Volume
6
Issue
3
Pages
236-435
ISSN
  • 1933-6918 (ISSN-L)
  • 1933-6926
OpenAlex
W2051652089
Cited by
43
References
211
Citations by year
2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
0.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Adhesion & Migration (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Cancer Institute (U01CA151235, U54CA126552, U54CA143836, R37CA064786, R21CA152499, P50CA058207, U01CA143233, R01CA057621, P30CA082103, U54CA112970)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Cells and Metastasis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Breast Cancer Treatment Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
Keywords
breast cancer, tumor microenvironment, mammary gland development, carcinoma in situ, invasive breast cancer, tumor heterogeneity, multi-gene signature, tumor progression, stromal interactions
MeSH terms
Animals, Breast Neoplasms, Cell Transformation, Neoplastic, Extracellular Matrix, Female, Humans, Signal Transduction, Paracrine Communication, Mammary Glands, Human, Tumor Microenvironment

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