Our affiliated research group led by Professor Cecilia Sahlgren at Åbo Akademi University and the InFLAMES Research Flagship has identified a new mechanism directing the adverse remodeling of tumor tissue during breast cancer progression. This discovery could offer new treatment opportunities against aggressive forms of breast cancer which currently lack targeted therapy options.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Localized, early-stage breast cancer has a good prognosis, but once cancer spreads to distant organs and forms metastasis, patient survival rate drops dramatically. Breast cancer subtype and the hormone receptor status of the cancer cells are major factors affecting patient survival, while the ability of cancer cells to communicate with other cells in the tumor and then in cooperation shape the surrounding tissue to their advantage is increasingly recognized as a key factor in regulating cancer metastasis and drug resistance.

One of the proteins mediating cell–cell communication called Jagged1 has been shown in previous studies to be highly expressed in aggressive, hormone receptor negative breast cancer. However, the exact functions of Jagged1 and whether it participates in breast cancer progression remained unknown.

“In our new study, we discover that Jagged1 increases breast tumor growth and metastasis and worsens survival prognosis among patients with aggressive breast cancer” says doctoral researcher Marjaana Parikainen from the Biosciences and Drug Research program at Åbo Akademi University.

Using various cancer model systems and utilizing data from breast cancer patients, the researchers discovered a previously unknown cell communication mechanism between breast cancer cells and fibroblasts, mediated by Jagged1. Fibroblasts are a cell type responsible for producing and controlling the extracellular matrix, a structural network of molecules providing support and signaling cues for cells in tissues.

The research article has been published in the prestigious scientific journal Science Advances 18.3.2026. The article can be found >>here.

>>Read the full press release

More information:
Marjaana Parikainen
Doctoral researcher, Biosciences and Drug Research program, Åbo Akademi University
InFLAMES Research Flagship
Tel.: +358 44 042 2332
Email: marjaana.parikainen@abo.fi

Cecilia Sahlgren
Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology, Åbo Akademi University
Turku Bioscience Centre
InFLAMES Research Flagship
Tel.: +358 50 300 9680
Email: cecilia.sahlgren@abo.fi
>>Cell Fate Lab