Notch Signaling and the Breast Cancer Microenvironment

Abstract

Notch promotes breast cancer progression through tumor initiating cell maintenance, tumor cell fate specification, proliferation, survival, and motility. In addition, Notch is recognized as a decisive mechanism in regulating various juxtacrine and paracrine communications in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this chapter, we review recent studies on stress-mediated Notch activation within the TME and sequelae such as angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, changes in the innate and adaptive immunophenotype, and therapeutic perspectives.

Keywords: Angiogenesis; Basal-like; Breast cancer; CCL2; CD8+ T-cell; Cancer-associated fibroblast; Cellular stress; DLL; Extracellular matrix; IL1β; Immune checkpoint blockade; Immunophenotype; JAG; Notch; PD-1; RBPJҡ; TGF-β; TRB3; Triple negative; Tumor microenvironment; Tumor-associated macrophage; USP9x; Urokinase-type plasminogen activator; γ-secretase.