Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41596472›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences2026

Mast Cells Accumulate in the Stroma of Breast Adenocarcinoma and Secrete Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Tumor-Damaging Mediators: Could IL-37 and IL-38 Play an Anti-Tumor Role?

Pio Conti, Carla E Gallenga, Ciro Annicchiarico, Armando Coppola, Raffaello Pellegrino, Michelangelo J Conti, Filiberto Mastrangelo

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of molecular sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
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

7 authors.

Pio ContiImmunology Division, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Chieti, 66100 Chieti, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9475-4924
Carla E GallengaSection of Ophthalmology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Specialist Surgery, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7426-8603
Ciro AnnicchiaricoIndependent Researcher, 74023 Grottaglie, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-6644-2773
Armando CoppolaPrivate Practice, Studio Armando Coppola, Corso Garibaldi 246, 80141 Naples, Italy.
Raffaello PellegrinoIndependent Researcher, Lecce-Castromediano/Cavallino, Via S. Pelico 34, 73100 Lecce, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5874-0376
Michelangelo J ContiFaculty of Medicine, S. Andrea University "La Sapienza", 00189 Rome, Italy.
Filiberto MastrangeloDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Foggia, 71100 Foggia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3746-5675

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Tumor tissue is surrounded by mast cells (MCs), which participate in the inflammatory immune response by producing cytokines, proteases, and other molecules. MCs are involved in both innate and acquired immunity and are associated with the IgE response through the FcεRI receptor. MCs mediate inflammation in several immune reactions, including acute hyperreactivity, leukocyte recruitment, acute tissue swelling, anaphylaxis, and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. They not only function as pro-inflammatory effector cells but may also contribute to the regulation of the acquired immune response in tumor tissue. Therefore, MCs may mediate immunity in breast cancer by promoting remodelling and counteracting cancer growth. They also produce anti-inflammatory substances, such as histamine, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)1, IL-10, and IL-4, which inhibit the acquired immune response and reduce the inflammatory state. IL-37 and IL-38 are novel natural regulators of inflammation and are anti-inflammatory members of the IL-1 family. IL-1, generated by immune cells such as macrophages and lymphocytes, is released downstream of oncogenes in breast cancer, triggering an inflammatory response by stimulating other pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and IL-33 (an early warning cytokine). Therefore, blocking IL-1 with IL-37 or IL-38 could represent a novel therapeutic strategy that, when combined with other treatments, could be beneficial in breast cancer. This review focuses on the new discoveries and insights into the role of MCs in breast cancer. We also analyzed molecules that can promote tumor growth and those that can inhibit cancer development and metastasis. This review aims to study the role of MCs accumulated in the stroma of breast adenocarcinoma in relation to secreted anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-37 and IL-38.

Indexed as

AdenocarcinomaBreast NeoplasmsCytokinesInflammation MediatorsInterleukin-1InterleukinsMast CellsAnimalsFemaleHumansCytokinesIL37 protein, humanIL-38 protein, humanInflammation MediatorsInterleukin-1Interleukinsadenocarcinomaanti-inflammatory cytokinecancerinflammatory cytokinemast cell

Identifiers

PMID41596472
PMCPMC12840601

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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.