Arthritis augments breast cancer metastasis: role of mast cells and SCF/c-Kit signaling.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women in the United States. Metastasis is regulated not only by intrinsic genetic changes in malignant cells, but also by the microenvironment, especially those associated with chronic inflammation. We recently reported that mice with autoimmune arthritis have significantly increased incidence of bone and lung metastasis and decreased survival associated with breast cancer. In this study, we evaluated the mechanism underlying the increased metastasis.

Methods

We used two mouse models; one that develops spontaneous autoimmune arthritis (SKG mice) injected with metastatic breast cancer cells (4T1), and another that develops spontaneous breast cancer (MMTV-PyV MT mice) injected with type II

SUBMITTER: Das Roy L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3672823 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature