{
  "abstract": "Tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) are sites of anti-tumor immune priming as well as metastases. Here, we examined how the cellular networks within TDLNs are reorganized in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We found that the frequencies of programmed death ligand 1 high (PD-L1 hi ) monocytes increased in TDLNs of metastatic TNBC mouse tumors. Fibroblastic reticular cell (FRC) subtypes heightened the expression of the chemokines CCL2 and CCL7, supporting the homing of CCR2 + monocytes. These monocytes suppressed T cells in vitro via PD-L1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Spatial transcriptomics revealed immunosuppressive FRC-monocyte niches in vascularized and T cell areas. Tumor-associated Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 ligands induced CCL2 and CCL7 expression by FRCs to promote monocyte recruitment. Localized TLR4 inhibition in combination with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (αPD-1) therapy reduced monocyte homing and boosted T cell function, ultimately attenuating lung metastases. Monocytes accumulate in human TNBC TDLNs, with evidence of a FRC-monocyte axis, and a TLR4 ligand signature is predictive of poor survival outcomes in TNBC patients. Thus, metastatic TNBC can reprogram lymph nodes (LNs) to facilitate PD-L1-mediated immune evasion and metastasis.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 30,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Greta Mattavelli"
    },
    {
      "name": "Moutaz Helal"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ana Cetkovic"
    },
    {
      "name": "Maximilian Krämer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Saskia-Laureen Herbert"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kilian Mielert"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tanja Schlaiß"
    },
    {
      "name": "Anna Frank"
    },
    {
      "name": "Emily Riemer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mara John"
    },
    {
      "name": "Josefina del Pilar Martinez Vasquez"
    },
    {
      "name": "Laura Kindl"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jonathan Swietlik"
    },
    {
      "name": "Benedikt Gansen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Marion Krafft"
    },
    {
      "name": "Emilia Stanojkovska"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hanna Fischer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ute-Susann Albert"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jonas Bauer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Murilo Delgobo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Arpa Aintablian"
    },
    {
      "name": "Haisam Alattar"
    },
    {
      "name": "Manfred Lutz"
    },
    {
      "name": "Felix Meissner"
    },
    {
      "name": "Thordur Oskarsson"
    },
    {
      "name": "Leo Rasche"
    },
    {
      "name": "Gustavo Ramos"
    },
    {
      "name": "Andreas Rosenwald"
    },
    {
      "name": "Achim Wöckel"
    },
    {
      "name": "Angela Riedel"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fjjsqeph2bdx9.bib",
  "cited_by": 21,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.immuni.2025.08.015",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "fjjsqeph2bdx9",
  "issns": [
    "1074-7613"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05780876v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sdv"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2403|Immune cells in cancer"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W4414307768",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-06",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fjjsqeph2bdx9.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:49Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05780876",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.science/hal-05780876v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2403|Immune cells in cancer",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A TLR4-dependent fibroblast-monocyte axis in tumor-draining lymph nodes contributes to metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer",
  "title_text": "A TLR4-dependent fibroblast-monocyte axis in tumor-draining lymph nodes contributes to metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:49Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fjjsqeph2bdx9",
  "venue": "Immunity",
  "versions": []
}