Enhancing the Phagocytic Clearance of Apoptotic Cells to Control Breast Carcinoma Progression
Abstract
Macrophages have emerged as a key cell type influencing the initiation, progression and metastasis of breast cancer. Their impact on carcinogenesis is largely understood through their role in promoting a pro- or anti-inflammatory milieu. The phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by macrophages, a chief function of these cells, greatly influences the inflammatory status of macrophages. Despite the abundance of both macrophages and apoptotic cells in mammary tumors, little is known about how these cells interact in the tumor environment. Understanding how macrophages respond to apoptotic cells during the engulfment process should reveal important information on how this critical cell type influences the development and progression of breast cancer, with implications for future prevention and treatment strategies targeting macrophages. In this study we evaluated the role of the critical find-me signal receptor P2Y2 on mammary tumorigenesis in a mouse model of breast cancer. The findings from this study are inconclusive regarding the importance of P2Y2 in tumor formation, owing chiefly to the limited number of animals analyzed to date. Future studies will be needed with more robust sample sizes in order to determine significance of this receptor in mammary tumorigenesis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA566560
Entities
People
- Michael R. Elliott
Organizations
- University of Rochester