Summary
Published in Breast Cancer Research (2025), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Wu, Sixuan, et al. Unveiling the key mechanisms of FOLR2+ macrophage-mediated antitumor immunity in breast cancer using integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing
Unveiling the key mechanisms of FOLR2+ macrophage-mediated antitumor immunity in breast cancer using integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing
Research Overview
The immune microenvironment shapes breast cancer progression. Combining single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing with in vivo and in vitro experiments, this study investigated the immunological role of FOLR2+ macrophages.
The interaction between FOLR2+ macrophages and CD8+ T cells was significantly enhanced within patient tumor tissue, and FOLR2 was closely associated with T cell infiltration — particularly CD8+ T cells. The macrophages act by secreting CXCL9 and engaging with the T cell compartment, identifying a mechanism that recruits cytotoxic T cells into breast tumors.
Key Discoveries
- FOLR2+ macrophages showed enhanced interaction with CD8+ T cells in patient breast tumors
- FOLR2 expression correlated with CD8+ T cell infiltration of the tumor microenvironment
- CXCL9 secretion identified as the mechanism engaging cytotoxic T cells
