B cells and energy metabolism in HER2-positive DCIS: insights into breast cancer progression from spatial-omics analyses

• DOI: 10.1186/s13058-025-01990-2
• Publication Date: 2025-03-21T19:26:53Z
• Authors: Helga Bergholtz; Jens Henrik Norum; Tonje Gulbrandsen...; Martina Landschoo...; Øystein Garred; Therese Sørlie
• Keywords: Tumor progression; Surgical oncology

Abstract During breast tumor progression, the transition from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive cancer is a critical step with large implications for prognosis. However, mechanisms of invasion are still largely unknown. At DCIS stage, there an over-representation HER2-positive lesions compared cancer. In this study, we investigated associations between gene expression profiles cells and immune microenvironment tumors concurrent using spatial transcriptomics. We found distinctly more B vicinity ducts than areas. There was higher genes involved energy metabolism positive correlation metabolic B-cell abundance DCIS. contrast were processes related epithelial mesenchymal negatively correlated also significant B-cell-attracting chemokines CCL19, CCL21 CXCL13 stromal cell This study indicates that may play protective role progression increased activity intraductal combination produced by influence These findings have understanding progression.