Mast cells in breast cancer angiogenesis.

Mast cells, accumulate in the stroma surrounding certain tumors and take part to the inflammatory reaction occurring at the periphery of the tumor. Mast cell-secreted angiogenic cytokines facilitate tumor vascularization not only by a direct effect but also by stimulating other inflammatory cells of the tumor microenvironment to release other angiogenic mediators. An increased number of mast cells have been demonstrated in angiogenesis associated with solid tumors, including breast cancer. Mast cells might act as a new target for the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer through the selective inhibition of angiogenesis, tissue remodeling and tumor promoting molecules, allowing the secretion of cytotoxic cytokines and preventing mast cell mediated immune-suppression.