Breast cancer stem cells generate immune-suppressive T regulatory cells by secreting TGF β to evade immune-elimination

In conclusion, during initiation as well as after chemotherapy, when NSCCs are not present in the tumor microenvironment, CSCs, albeit present in low numbers, generate immunosuppressive CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells in a contact-independent manner by shedding high levels of immune-suppressive Treg-polarizing cytokine TGF β, thus escaping immune-elimination and initiating the tumor or causing tumor relapse.
Source: Hormones and Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research