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Gene Expression Signatures of the Tumor Microenvironment: Relation to Tumor Progress in Breast Cancer

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Biomarkers of the Tumor Microenvironment

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Abstract

Cancer cell invasion and progression toward the metastatic stage are biological processes that have been studied for a long time. There is not one all-inclusive model that encompasses the complete picture of the different conditions and pathways operating in human tumors. Application of gene expression signatures is one way of mining the complex tumor landscape, and this has been proposed to represent a robust method to reflect the many signaling systems.

This chapter gives an update on gene expression signature studies related to breast cancer progress. Signatures reflecting cancer-associated stroma, in particular tumor fibroblasts, parts of the vascular system, and signature profiles pointing to immune-related alterations, are in focus. Several signature studies support that a combination of extracellular remodeling, activated vascular biology, and immune-related signaling takes place during breast cancer progress. Stromal alterations and processes are likely to represent a wide spectrum of novel biomarkers and companion treatment targets.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Elisabeth Wik & Lars A. Akslen

  2. Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

    Elisabeth Wik & Lars A. Akslen

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  1. Elisabeth Wik
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  2. Lars A. Akslen
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Correspondence to Elisabeth Wik .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Lars A. Akslen

  2. Vascular Biology Program, Department of Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Randolph S. Watnick

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Wik, E., Akslen, L.A. (2017). Gene Expression Signatures of the Tumor Microenvironment: Relation to Tumor Progress in Breast Cancer. In: Akslen, L., Watnick, R. (eds) Biomarkers of the Tumor Microenvironment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39147-2_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39147-2_16

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