Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41530690›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2026

Breast cancer microenvironment composition associated with high PD-L1 expression.

Vasyl Chekhun, Yelyzaveta Lukianova, Oleksandr Mushii, Taras Zadvornyi, Anna Pavlova, Tetiana Burda, Volodymyr Bazas, Iryna Shepelenko, Nataliia Lukianova

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Vasyl ChekhunRE Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Vasylkivska Street, 45, 03022, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Yelyzaveta LukianovaRE Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Vasylkivska Street, 45, 03022, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Oleksandr MushiiRE Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Vasylkivska Street, 45, 03022, Kyiv, Ukraine. sashamushy1@gmail.com.
Taras ZadvornyiRE Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Vasylkivska Street, 45, 03022, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Anna PavlovaRE Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Vasylkivska Street, 45, 03022, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Tetiana BurdaRE Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Vasylkivska Street, 45, 03022, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Volodymyr BazasRE Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Vasylkivska Street, 45, 03022, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Iryna ShepelenkoRE Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Vasylkivska Street, 45, 03022, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Nataliia LukianovaRE Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Vasylkivska Street, 45, 03022, Kyiv, Ukraine. nataluk10@gmail.com.

Funding

Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine 0122U201203National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 0124U000078
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA key challenge that complicates early diagnosis, choice of treatment tactics, and prognosis of the course of breast cancer (BC) is its heterogeneity. Today, many researchers focus on the TME as an environment that directly determines the development and progression of BC. Given this, it is necessary to deepen our understanding of the features of the TME and its interaction with tumor cells. PURPOSE: to characterize the cellular and molecular composition of the TME in early-stage BC, stratified by PD-L1 expression status, with a focus on immune cell infiltration (CD68 + and CD163 + cells, mast cells (MCs)), cytokine profiles (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α), and extracellular matrix (vimentin (VIM), TGF-β1, collagen type 1 alpha 1 chain (COL1A1), collagen type 3 alpha 1 chain (COL3A1), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) both collagenases (MMP-1, MMP-8, and MMP-13) and gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), lysyl oxidase (LOX), and Procollagen-lysine,2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 1 (PLOD, to identify features associated with an immunosuppressive and tumor-promoting phenotype.

methodsThe study was conducted on the postoperative material of 124 patients with stage I-II BC. The expression of TME markers was analyzed immunohistochemically. The mRNA gene expression was estimated using the real-time RT-PCR method. Serum cytokines levels were assessed by the ELISA method.

resultsWe found an association between high PD-L1 expression and increased levels of infiltration of BC tissue with CD163 + macrophages and MCs by 2.9 and 2.5 times, respectively. At the same time, it was shown that BC with high PD-L1 expression is characterized by a significant increase in serum interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels against the background of decreasing the interleukin-6 (IL6) levels. Simultaneously, high PD-L1 expression is associated with a 2.13-fold increase in transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and a 13.24% increase in collagen type 1 (COL1A1). Simultaneously, in ВС with high levels of PD-L1 expression, we found the expression elevations of collagenases (MMP-1, MMP-8, and MMP-13 by 2.43, 1.80, and 1.73 times, respectively), gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9 by 2.03 and 2.05 times, respectively), and collagen density regulatory protein lysyl oxidase (LOX) (by 2.48 times, respectively).

conclusionHigh PD-L1 expression in BC tissue is associated with features of an immunosuppressive TME, including increased infiltration of immune cells with pro-tumorigenic properties, alterations in the cytokine profile, and remodeling of the stromal matrix.

Indexed as

B7-H1 AntigenBreast NeoplasmsTumor MicroenvironmentAntigens, CDAntigens, Differentiation, MyelomonocyticBiomarkers, TumorCD163 AntigenCD68 MoleculeCollagen Type ICollagen Type I, alpha 1 ChainCollagen Type IIICytokinesFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMast CellsAntigens, CDAntigens, Differentiation, MyelomonocyticB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorCD163 AntigenCD274 protein, humanCD68 antigen, humanCD68 MoleculeCOL1A1 protein, humanCOL3A1 protein, humanCollagen Type ICollagen Type I, alpha 1 ChainCollagen Type IIICytokinesMatrix MetalloproteinasesReceptors, Cell SurfaceTransforming Growth Factor beta1Breast cancerBreast tumor heterogeneityPD-L1Tumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID41530690
PMCPMC12892717

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.