Breast Cancer Metastases Retain Tumor Cell Types but Shift Immune Profiles
A recent study led by the Bodenmiller Lab at the Department of Quantitative Biomedicine (DQBM), University of Zurich, has mapped the cellular architecture of primary and metastatic breast cancer at unprecedented resolution. Published in Cancer Research on January 1, 2025, the study used imaging mass cytometry across 87 patients to compare matched primary and distant metastatic tumors.
The team found that cancer cell phenotypes remained consistent between primary and metastatic tumors, suggesting a strong founder effect. However, immune cell compositions diverged significantly, with metastatic sites showing fewer lymphoid cells but more myeloid cells, including exhausted and cytotoxic T cells.
These findings underscore the complex immune modulation in metastases and highlight myeloid cells as potential therapeutic targets. The study enhances understanding of tumor evolution and could inform future strategies in personalized cancer treatment.
