The Rodent Liver Undergoes Weaning-Induced Involution and Supports Breast Cancer Metastasis.

ABSTRACT: Patients with postpartum breast cancer are at increased risk for metastasis compared with age-matched nulliparous or pregnant patients. Here, we address whether circulating tumor cells have a metastatic advantage in the postpartum host and find the postlactation rodent liver preferentially supports metastasis. Upon weaning, we observed liver weight loss, hepatocyte apoptosis, extracellular matrix remodeling including deposition of collagen and tenascin-C, and myeloid cell influx, data consistent with weaning-induced liver involution and establishment of a prometastatic microenvironment. Using intracardiac and intraportal metastasis models, we observed increased liver metastasis in post-weaning BALB/c mice compared with nulliparous controls. Human relevance is suggested by a ∼3-fold increas

SUBMITTER: Goddard ET 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5459606 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature