Breast cancer progression is driven by a complex ecosystem where cancer cells and their microenvironment communicate extensively. A recent Perspective article in Science Bulletin from a team led by Dr. Wenqian Wang (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University), Professor Min Wu (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou Institute), and Associate Professor Chunyan Hua (Wenzhou Medical University) reveals the crucial crosstalk between exosomes—small messengers released by cells—and metabolic reprogramming in breast cancer. This interaction influences tumor growth, resistance to therapy, and cancer stem cell survival. The study proposes innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting this “exosome-metabolism axis”, offering new hope for more effective patient management.

In a significant step towards improving targeted cancer therapy, researchers from Japan have developed a novel nanocarrier system that delivers therapeutic antibodies directly to target antigens inside cancer cells. By utilizing a metal-polyphenol network, the system escapes endosomes, enabling intracellular targeting of antibodies, resulting in suppression of tumor growth and enhanced anti-cancer activity, offering a promising tool for targeted cancer therapy.

In a surprising twist on cellular metabolism, scientists have uncovered a noncanonical role of the metabolic enzymePHGDH in shaping immune responses within breast cancer microenvironment.