Browsing by Subject "Microenvironment"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
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    Open Access
    Microenvironment in breast tumorigenesis: Friend or foe?
    (Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2019) Martins, Diana; Schmitt, Fernando
    It is now widely accepted that the tumor microenvironment is a pathologically active niche that shapes tumor nature, evolution and response to treatment. Close interactions between cancer cells and stroma are known to regulate several cancer pathways and thus the determination of different tumor-stromal interactions could be an important step in invasiveness. The breast cancer microenvironment is a complex combination of several different cell types and molecules and a key contributor to tumor development and progression. The microenvironment includes fibroblasts, macrophages, immune cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, endothelial cells and angiogenic vascular cells, whereas stromal cells surround and interact with tumor cells. Recent data demonstrate significant gene expression alterations in microenvironment cells during disease progression and several stromal cell types are implicated in promoting the “hallmarks of cancer”, which can be explored as targets for cancer therapy. Besides identifying new therapeutic targets, the microenvironment has also been implicated in chemotherapy resistance, suggesting that the crosstalk between cancer and its microenvironment is a promising strategy to target breast cancer.
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    Open Access
    Single-cell spatial proteomics
    (Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2025) Liyanage, Senal; Guo, Jia; Biología Celular e Histología
    Recent advancements in single-cell spatial proteomics have revolutionized our ability to elucidate cellular signaling networks and their implications in health and disease. This review examines these cutting-edge technologies, focusing on mass spectrometry (MS) imaging and multiplexed immunofluorescence (mIF). Such approaches allow high-resolution protein profiling at the single-cell level, revealing intricate cellular heterogeneity, spatial organization, and protein functions within their native cellular contexts. MS imaging techniques offer unprecedented high-dimensional resolution and provide detailed insights into their subcellular protein localization and abundance. mIF enables rapid and high-throughput protein profiling, enhancing its accessibility for diverse research and clinical applications. This review assesses the current challenges associated with these methodologies and also discusses the potential solutions to overcome these obstacles. The integration of spatial proteomics with other systems biology approaches holds great promise for enhancing our understanding of complex biological systems. It could also lead to significant advancements in molecular diagnostics and personalized treatment strategies.