Fig. 7: Conceptual schema. | Nature Communications

Fig. 7: Conceptual schema.

From: Chronic circadian disruption modulates breast cancer stemness and immune microenvironment to drive metastasis in mice

Fig. 7

Chronic circadian disruption (CRD) alters two key aspects of tumour biology. It increases the proportion of cancer stem cells (CSCs, in dark blue) and modifies the tumour microenvironment (TME) through the recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs, in yellow), resulting in a suppressive tumour immune microenvironment (TIME). At least one mechanism that could drive this process is an enhanced CXCL5-CXCR2 axis in the TIME. Collectively, these effects result in increased dissemination and metastasis in bone marrow and lungs. Inhibition of the CXCR2 axis is able to alleviate the effect of CRD and recover anti-tumour activity.

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