Ectonucleotidases: Possible roles in the tumor microenvironment and influence on tumor progression in breast cancer

Compared with nontumor tissue, the tumor microenvironment has a higher concentration of extracellular ATP. Extracellular ATP is degraded by the cooperative action of CD39 and ecto-5'-nucleotidase (CD73), thus leading to increases in the concentrations of adenosine and phosphate. This cooperative action can convert a proinflammatory environment characterized by a high concentration of ATP into an anti-inflammatory environment characterized by a high concentration of adenosine. In addition to its role in immune suppression, adenosine induces migration, metastasis and angiogenesis in breast cancer. In breast cancer, extracellular Pi plays an important role in tumor progression by increasing metastatic capacity. Studies have demonstrated that ecto-5'-nucleotidases are associated with chemoresistance and immune suppression through adenosine generation. In addition, ecto-5'-nucleotidases play a role in activating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Therefore, ectonucleotidase activity may represent a therapeutic target for the treatment of breast cancer.