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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Mammary Epithelial and Endothelial Cell Spheroids as a Potential Functional In vitro Model for Breast Cancer Research

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Published on: July 12, 2021

Stroma in breast development and disease.

Lisa M Arendt¹, Jenny A Rudnick, Patricia J Keller

¹Department of Anatomy & Cellular Biology, Sackler School, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology

|October 28, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The breast tissue stroma plays a crucial role in normal mammary development and breast cancer progression. Understanding these stromal interactions offers potential new therapeutic targets for breast cancer treatment and prevention.

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Area of Science:

Oncology
Developmental Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

Normal and malignant breast tissues rely on intricate local and systemic stromal interactions for development and progression.
Mammary cell fate specification and differentiation during development are regulated by contextual signals from the stroma.
The tissue stroma can influence breast carcinoma development by providing tumor-suppressing or tumor-promoting environments.

Purpose of the Study:

This review focuses on the critical role of the stroma in normal mammary development.
The review examines the stroma's function as a regulator of malignant conversion and progression in breast cancer.

Main Methods:

This is a review article, synthesizing existing research on the topic.
The authors analyzed literature concerning stromal interactions in mammary gland development and breast cancer.

Main Results:

The stroma is essential for normal mammary gland development and function.
Stromal environments can either suppress or promote tumor growth in breast cancer.
Stromal interactions significantly impact neoplastic epithelial growth and breast cancer progression.

Conclusions:

The stroma is a key mediator of normal mammary development.
The stroma critically regulates malignant conversion and progression in breast cancer.
Targeting stromal interactions presents a promising avenue for novel breast cancer therapies and recurrence prevention.