Cyclooxygenase-2-dependent lymphangiogenesis promotes nodal metastasis of postpartum breast cancer.

ABSTRACT: Breast involution following pregnancy has been implicated in the high rates of metastasis observed in postpartum breast cancers; however, it is not clear how this remodeling process promotes metastasis. Here, we demonstrate that human postpartum breast cancers have increased peritumor lymphatic vessel density that correlates with increased frequency of lymph node metastases. Moreover, lymphatic vessel density was increased in normal postpartum breast tissue compared with tissue from nulliparous women. In rodents, mammary lymphangiogenesis was upregulated during weaning-induced mammary gland involution. Furthermore, breast cancer cells exposed to the involuting mammary microenvironment acquired prolymphangiogenic properties that contributed to peritumor lymphatic expansion, tumor size, inva

SUBMITTER: Lyons TR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4153700 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature