•  
  •  
 

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

stromal-cell, macrophages, breast cancer cells, metastatic patterns

College

Life Sciences

Department

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that in some tumors, up to fifty percent of a breast tumor’s mass is composed of macrophages (1). It is well recognized that macrophages can inhibit tumor growth and, paradoxically, stimulate tumor growth and metastasis depending on the proteins produced (2). Macrophages located within the tumor environment are classified as tumor-associated macrophages. The migration of cancer cells from the primary tumor to a secondary site is a multipart process. How tumors are able to proliferate and invade into foreign areas is still unclear. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the presence of macrophages in primary tumors is associated with an increased potential for tumors to migrate (2).

Included in

Microbiology Commons

Share

COinS