Few, but Efficient: The Role of Mast Cells in Breast Cancer and Other Solid Tumors

Overview

Journal Cancer Res

Specialty Oncology

Date 2022 Jan 20

PMID 35045983

Authors

Maria Teresa Majorini

Mario Paolo Colombo

Daniele Lecis

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Tumor outcome is determined not only by cancer cell-intrinsic features but also by the interaction between cancer cells and their microenvironment. There is great interest in tumor-infiltrating immune cells, yet mast cells have been less studied. Recent work has highlighted the impact of mast cells on the features and aggressiveness of cancer cells, but the eventual effect of mast cell infiltration is still controversial. Here, we review multifaceted findings regarding the role of mast cells in cancer, with a particular focus on breast cancer, which is further complicated because of its classification into subtypes characterized by different biological features, outcome, and therapeutic strategies.

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