The role of myeloid cells in breast cancer metastasis

Abstract

Metastasis is the leading cause of death in breast cancer patients. The current methods for predicting likelihood of metastasis are insufficient and treatment options are limited once distant metastasis occurs. Emerging data implicate myeloid cells as active participants in breast cancer metastasis. Myeloid cells in cancer are often studied as Gr-1+CD11b+ myeloid derived suppressor cells. However, this group of cells is comprised of many different cell types, including macrophages and neutrophils. Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) can play key roles in metastatic events but little is known about the roles of monocytes, i.e. macrophage precursors, in metastasis, and it has been suggested t..