SAA1-dependent reprogramming of adipocytes by tumor cells is associated with triple negative breast cancer aggressiveness.

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) are characterized by a poor prognosis and a lack of targeted treatments. Their progression depends on tumor cell intrinsic factors, the tumor microenvironment and host characteristics. Although adipocytes, the primary stromal cells of the breast, have been determined to be plastic in physiology and cancer, the tumor-derived molecular mediators of tumor-adipocyte crosstalk have not been identified yet.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy vs No Axillary Surgery in Patients With Small Breast Cancer and Negative Results on Ultrasonography of Axillary Lymph Nodes: The SOUND Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the standard of care for axillary node staging of patients with early breast cancer (BC), but its necessity can be questioned since surgery for examination of axillary nodes is not performed with curative intent.

Objective: To determine whether the omission of axillary surgery is noninferior to SLNB in patients with small BC and a negative result on preoperative axillary lymph node ultrasonography.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The SOUND (Sentinel Node vs Observation After Axillary Ultra-Sound) trial was a prospective noninferiority phase 3 randomized clinical trial conducted in Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and Chile.

Adipocytes in Breast Cancer, the Thick and the Thin.

It is well established that breast cancer development and progression depend not only on tumor-cell intrinsic factors but also on its microenvironment and on the host characteristics. There is growing evidence that adipocytes play a role in breast cancer progression. This is supported by: i) epidemiological studies reporting the association of obesity with a higher cancer risk and poor prognosis, ii) recent studies demonstrating the existence of a cross-talk between breast cancer cells and adipocytes locally in the breast that leads to acquisition of an aggressive tumor phenotype, and iii) evidence showing that cancer cachexia applies also to fat tissue and shares similarities with stromal-carcinoma metabolic synergy.

Decoding Immune Heterogeneity of Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Its Association with Systemic Inflammation.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with limited therapeutic options. New opportunities are emerging from current comprehensive characterization of tumor immune infiltration and fitness. Therefore, effectiveness of current chemotherapies and novel immunotherapies are partially dictated by host inflammatory and immune profiles.

Wound Healing Fluid Reflects the Inflammatory Nature and Aggressiveness of Breast Tumors.

Wound healing fluid that originates from breast surgery increases the aggressiveness of cancer cells that remain after the surgery. We determined the effects of the extent of surgery and tumor-driven remodeling of the surrounding microenvironment on the ability of wound-healing to promote breast cancer progression. In our analysis of a panel of 34 cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in wound healing fluid, obtained from 27 breast carcinoma patients after surgery, the levels of several small molecules were associated with the extent of cellular damage that was induced by surgery.