Aggressive breast cancer manipulates lymph nodes to evade immune detection

Aggressive breast cancer evades immune detection by manipulating lymph nodes before metastasis. Researchers found that tumor cells corrupt immune cells called monocytes and enlist structural lymph node cells (FRCs) to create a pre-metastatic environment. This reprogramming hinders the immune system's ability to fight cancer. Blocking a specific receptor (TLR4) in lymph nodes, combined with immunotherapy, reduced metastasis in mouse models, suggesting a potential new treatment strategy for aggressive breast cancer.