title: Tumor-extracellular matrix interactions: Identification of tools associated with breast cancer progression.
abstract: Several evidences support the concept that cancer development and progression are not entirely cancer cell-autonomous processes, but may be influenced, and possibly driven, by cross-talk between cancer cells and the surrounding microenvironment in which, besides immune cells, stromal cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) play a major role in regulating distinct biologic processes. Stroma and ECM-related signatures proved to influence breast cancer progression, and to contribute to the identification of tumor phenotypes resistant to cytotoxic and hormonal treatments. The possible clinical implications of the interplay between tumor cells and the microenvironment, with special reference to ECM remodelling, will be discussed in this review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via G.A. Amadeo, 42, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: marta.giussani@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giussani
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via G.A. Amadeo, 42, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: giuseppe.merlino@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merlino
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via G.A. Amadeo, 42, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: vera.cappelletti@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cappelletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via G.A. Amadeo, 42, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: elda.tagliabue@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Elda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tagliabue
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via G.A. Amadeo, 42, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: mariagrazia.daidone@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Daidone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002450:Cell Communication; D018450:Disease Progression; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Breast cancer; ECM-related signatures; Extracellular matrix; Tumor microenvironment; Tumor stroma component