The Wingless (Wnt)/β-catenin pathway has long been associated with tumorigenesis, tumor plasticity, and tumor-initiating cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs). Wnt signaling has recently been implicated in the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells. Aberrant Wnt signaling is considered to be a driver of metabolic alterations of glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and lipogenesis, processes essential to the survival of bulk and CSC populations. Over the past decade, the Wnt pathway has also been shown to regulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) and anti-cancer immunity. Wnt ligands released by tumor cells in the TME facilitate the immune evasion of cancer cells and hamper immunotherapy. In this review, we illustrate the role of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway in cancer metabolism and immunity to explore the potential therapeutic approach of targeting Wnt signaling from a metabolic and immunological perspective.

Bone‐related events caused by breast cancer bone metastasis substantially compromise the survival and quality of life of patients. Because triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks hormone receptors and Her2‐targeted therapeutic options, progress in the treatment of TNBC bone metastasis has been very slow. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) is highly expressed in various cancers and plays an important role in tumorigenesis and metastasis. However, the effect and mechanism of ICAM1 in TNBC bone metastasis are still unknown. We found that ICAM1 was highly expressed in TNBC and correlated with prognosis in TNBC patients. Cell lines with high expression of ICAM1 exhibited enhanced bone metastasis in tumor‐bearing mice, and silencing ICAM1 expression significantly inhibited bone metastasis in mice. ICAM1 interacted with integrins to activate the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition program through TGF‐β/SMAD signaling, ultimately enhancing cell invasiveness. Therefore, the findings of the present study provide a strong rationale for the application of ICAM1‐targeted therapy in TNBC patients with bone metastasis.

Osthole inhibits bone metastasis of breast cancer

Purpose: The etiology and pathology of granulomatous mastitis (GLM) are still unknown. Expert consensus on the treatment of GLM has not been developed. The objective of this study is to study the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with surgery in treating GLM.Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was implemented at Longhua Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China between September 2019 and August 2021. Female patients were included according to the propensity-score matching (PSM) method and balanced according to age and BMI. Patients with GLM diagnosed by pathology and a course of disease ≥ 6 months were included in this trial. Patients were divided into the TCM alone group or TCM + surgery group.Results: In total, 168 female patients were assessed and 102 patients were included in the study after PSM (51 in the TCM group and 51 in the TCM + surgery group). The average age of the patients was 32 years (21-47 years). There was no significant baseline characteristics difference between two groups after PSM. The suppuration rate in the TCM + surgery group was less than that in the TCM group (64.7% vs. 83.35%, P < 0.05), and the TCM + surgery group had a higher 9-month cure rate than the TCM group (86.3% vs. 52.9%, P < 0.05). The full course of disease in the TCM + surgery group was shorter than that in the TCM group (253.9 ± 117.3 days vs. 332.5 ± 111.6 days, P < 0.05).Conclusions: TCM combined with surgery can improve the cure rate and shorten the full course of GLM treatment, indicating surgery should be integrated in the clinical management of GLM.