Aging-associated differences in mammary tumor-initiating populations and immune evasion pathways in breast cancer.

ABSTRACT: Aging is a major risk factor for breast cancer, yet how it shapes tumor development, molecular phenotype, and immune evasion remains incompletely understood. Deciphering how aging influences cancer evolution is critical for improving risk assessment, prevention, and treatment. Here, using a N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU)-induced rat mammary tumor model that recapitulates key features of human breast cancer, we integrated bulk and single-cell transcriptomics, whole-exome sequencing, and histopathological analysis to dissect age-associated differences in mammary tumorigenesis. We found that the age at NMU exposure critically influences tumor incidence, mutational burden, molecular subtype, and the tumor immune microenvironment. Tumors arising in aged rats originated from aging luminal progenit

SUBMITTER: Yan P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12933083 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature