Podoplanin-Expressing Macrophages Promote Lymphangiogenesis and Lymphoinvasion in Breast Cancer (Cell Metabolism)

Bieniasz-Krzywiec et al. demonstrate a triad interaction of podoplanin (PDPN)-expressing tumor-associated macrophages (PoEMs), GAL8-expressing lymphatic vessels, and invading breast cancer cells, which promotes metastasis. PoEMs remodel the extracellular matrix, stimulating lymphangiogenesis, and release previously trapped cancer-promoting factors that facilitate cancer cell lymphoinvasion.