Article Allergen induced pulmonary inflammation enhances mammary tumor growth and metastasis: Role of CHI3L1

Metastasis is the primary cause of mortality in women with breast cancer. Metastasis to the lungs is greater in patients with pulmonary inflammatory illnesses. It is unknown how pre-existing pulmonary inflammation affects mammary tumor progression. We developed a novel breast cancer model in which pulmonary in-flammation is induced in mice prior to tumor cell implan-tation. In the present study, we determined how pre-existing allergen-induced inflammation changes the pul-monary microenvironment to exacerbate tumor metas-tasis. We showed that pre-existing pulmonary inflammation in mammary tumor bearers is associated with: 1) an increase in growth of the primary tumor and metastasis; 2) an increase in the expression of a glyco