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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Modeling Breast Cancer in Human Breast Tissue using a Microphysiological System
Published on: April 23, 2021
Mechanistic Links Between Obesity and Breast Cancer Progression: Cellular Crosstalk, Metabolic Reprogramming and
Charlise Basson1,2, Michael S Pepper2, Anna M Joubert3
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Abstract:
Obesity is increasingly recognised as an important factor contributing to cancer progression, particularly in breast cancer. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying obesity-driven breast cancer remain unclear. Several theories have been proposed to explain the complex interactions between adipose tissue and cancer, incorporating both local and distant crosstalk. This review describes existing theories on the cellular and molecular mechanisms linking obesity and breast cancer progression with a focus on inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic reprogramming, the tumour microenvironment and crosstalk between adipose tissue and tumours. The nature of these interactions appears to be influenced by the specific characteristics of adipose tissue, including its type and anatomical location, which play distinct roles in modulating breast cancer risk and outcomes. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie obesity-driven breast cancer progression may pave the way for the development of targeted therapies.
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