Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Metastasis—the dissemination of tumor cells to distant organs—is the primary driver of breast cancer-related deaths, often leading to organ dysfunction and treatment resistance. While sentinel lymph nodes are the initial site of metastasis, the molecular mechanisms driving lymphatic spread are still not well understood. Multifarious questions remain on the role, requirement, and significance of the lymphatic system in the context of the distant metastasis of breast cancer. To address these questions, this review explores the recent advancements achieved in studies related to the molecular processes behind lymphatic metastasis in breast cancer, highlighting the tumor microenvironment’s role in supporting circulating tumor cells. We also examine the key molecular pathways involved in metastatic progression by analyzing the cellular, genetic, and physiological factors that drive lymphatic metastasis. The insights gained may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches to prevent or mitigate breast cancer metastasis.
乳腺癌是女性中最常见的恶性肿瘤，也是全球范围内导致发病和死亡的主要原因之一。转移——即肿瘤细胞向远处器官的扩散——是导致乳腺癌相关死亡的主要驱动因素，常引起器官功能障碍和治疗抵抗。虽然前哨淋巴结是转移的初始部位，但驱动淋巴扩散的分子机制仍未得到充分理解。关于淋巴系统在乳腺癌远处转移中的作用、必要性及意义，仍存在诸多未解之谜。为探讨这些问题，本文综述了近年来在乳腺癌淋巴转移分子机制研究方面取得的进展，重点阐述了肿瘤微环境在支持循环肿瘤细胞中的作用。通过分析驱动淋巴转移的细胞、遗传及生理因素，我们还探讨了参与转移进程的关键分子通路。这些见解可能有助于开发预防或减轻乳腺癌转移的新治疗策略。
Molecular Mechanisms of Lymphatic Metastasis in Breast Cancer: An Updated Review
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家