Abstract A098: A role for fibrosis in promoting pro-tumor immune response in breast cancer

We established a positive correlation between a fibrotic phenotype in human breast tumors — especially the Her2 and basal-like breast cancer subtypes — and CD45 and CD68 positive immune cell infiltration. We were interested in elucidating how this fibrotic phenotype may influence the immune response. To address this question, we examined if matrix stiffness alters the function of STAT3, a central regulator of tumor inflammation. We hypothesize...