Breast cancer remodels lymphatics in sentinel lymph nodes.

ABSTRACT: Cancer metastasis to sentinel lymph nodes (LNs) is often the first marker of potential disease progression. Although it is recognized that tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis facilitates metastasis into LNs in murine models, tumor-induced alterations in human lymphatic vessels remain obscure. Here we use single-cell RNA sequencing and high-resolution spatial transcriptomics to profile lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) subsets in paired metastatic and non-metastatic LNs obtained from female patients with treatment-naïve breast cancer. Tumor metastasis decreases immunoregulatory LEC subsets, such as PD-L1⁺ subcapsular sinus LECs, while inducing an increase in capillary-like CD200⁺ HEY1⁺ LECs. Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is the most upregulated gene in metastatic LN L

SUBMITTER: Eichin D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12623973 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature