Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
A Simple and Rapid Protocol to Non-enzymatically Dissociate Fresh Human Tissues for the Analysis of Infiltrating Lymphocytes
Published on: December 6, 2014
The peripheral immune landscape of human breast cancer
Esmeralda García-Torralba1,2,3,4, Aitziber Buqué1, Lorenzo Galluzzi1
1Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Abstract:
The clinical management of patients with breast cancer is largely dictated by tumor stage, disease subtype and (at least in some settings) specific molecular features thereof (e.g., BRCA1 mutations, PD-L1 positivity). However, not all patients with breast cancer respond to therapeutic approaches that a priori are precisely targeted to their disease. At least in part, this may reflect the fact that breast neoplasms are highly heterogeneous from a broad immunological perspective, even when they exhibit similar disease subtype and molecular features. Thus, integrating extra immunological parameters into current decision-making algorithms may considerably improve clinical management in this large patient population. In this context, circulating indicators of global immune fitness and ongoing anticancer immunity stand out as particularly promising tools for minimally invasive prognostic and/or predictive assessments. Here, we summarize and critically discuss the circulating immune landscape of human breast cancer, whenever possible comparing across disease subtypes, stages, and treatment outcomes.
Insights
Integrating immune system indicators into breast cancer treatment decisions can improve patient outcomes. Analyzing the circulating immune landscape offers minimally invasive prognostic and predictive insights for breast cancer management.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Translational Medicine
Background:
- Breast cancer management relies on tumor stage, subtype, and molecular features.
- Therapeutic response varies, partly due to tumor immunological heterogeneity.
- Current decision-making algorithms could benefit from additional immunological parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically discuss the circulating immune landscape in human breast cancer.
- To explore the potential of immune indicators for prognostic and predictive assessments.
- To compare the immune landscape across different breast cancer subtypes, stages, and treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of existing literature on the circulating immune landscape in breast cancer.
- Comparative analysis of immunological parameters across diverse patient cohorts.
- Discussion of the clinical utility of circulating immune markers.
Main Results:
- Breast cancer exhibits significant immunological heterogeneity, impacting treatment response.
- Circulating immune indicators reflect global immune fitness and anticancer immunity.
- Immune profiles vary based on breast cancer subtype, stage, and treatment outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The immunological landscape of breast cancer is complex and impacts clinical outcomes.
- Circulating immune markers offer promising avenues for minimally invasive prognostic and predictive assessments.
- Incorporating immunological parameters into clinical decision-making may enhance breast cancer management.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment