Recent insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cancer development have revealed the tumor microenvironment (TME) immune cells to functionally affect the development and progression of breast cancer. However, insufficient evidence of TME immune modulators limit the clinical application of immunotherapy for advanced and metastatic breast cancers. Intercellular STAT3 activation of immune cells plays a central role in breast cancer TME immunosuppression and distant metastasis. Accumulating evidence suggests that targeting STAT3 and/or in combination with radiotherapy may enhance anti-cancer immune responses and rescue the systemic immunologic microenvironment in breast cancer. Indeed, apart from its oncogenic role in tumor cells, the functions of STAT3 in TME of breast cancer involve multiple types of immunosuppression and is associated with tumor cell metastasis. In this review, we summarize the available information on the functions of STAT3-related immune cells in TME of breast cancer, as well as the specific upstream and downstream targets. Additionally, we provide insights about the potential immunosuppression mechanisms of each type of evaluated immune cells.

中文翻译：

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免疫环境的协调调节：乳腺癌进展过程中 STAT3 和免疫细胞之间的串扰


最近对癌症发展的分子和细胞机制的深入了解揭示了肿瘤微环境（TME）免疫细胞在功能上影响乳腺癌的发展和进展。然而，TME免疫调节剂的证据不足限制了免疫疗法在晚期和转移性乳腺癌的临床应用。免疫细胞的细胞间 STAT3 激活在乳腺癌 TME 免疫抑制和远处转移中发挥着核心作用。越来越多的证据表明，靶向 STAT3 和/或联合放疗可能会增强抗癌免疫反应并挽救乳腺癌的全身免疫微环境。事实上，除了在肿瘤细胞中的致癌作用外，STAT3在乳腺癌TME中的功能还涉及多种类型的免疫抑制，并与肿瘤细胞转移相关。在这篇综述中，我们总结了STAT3相关免疫细胞在乳腺癌TME中的功能以及具体的上下游靶点的现有信息。此外，我们还提供了有关每种类型的评估免疫细胞的潜在免疫抑制机制的见解。