A novel diagnostic approach based on the discovery that neutrophils physically interact with tumor cells in breast cancer, creating a unique signaling niche that enhances cancer aggressiveness. This interaction can be used to assess the aggressiveness of breast cancer, offering a new way to predict patient outcomes and guide treatment strategies.

Unmet Need
Current diagnostic methods for breast cancer do not provide sufficient insight into the tumor’s aggressiveness or its potential for metastasis. This results in a one-size-fits-all treatment approach, which may be ineffective for patients with more aggressive forms of cancer. There is a need for better biomarkers and diagnostic tools that can predict how quickly a cancer will progress and metastasize, enabling more personalized treatment plans.

Our Solution
We have identified that neutrophils, recruited to the tumor site, interact with tumor cells to form a signaling niche that promotes tumor progression. This interaction is a critical factor in determining the aggressiveness of the cancer. By detecting and analyzing these neutrophil-tumor cell interactions, we provide a powerful diagnostic tool for assessing breast cancer aggressiveness, based on molecular expression. Preliminary analysis showed significant correlation between the biomarker score genes to worse survival of advanced (stages III and IV) breast cancer patients. This tool could be used to identify patients with high-risk tumors and tailor treatment plans accordingly.

Unique Advantages
• Precise Biomarker: Neutrophil-tumor cell interactions serve as a direct marker of tumor aggressiveness, offering more specificity than current biomarkers.
• Non-Invasive: Potential for use in liquid biopsy or tissue biopsy to assess the aggressiveness of breast cancer at an early stage.
• Predictive Capability: The ability to predict tumor progression and metastasis based on the strength and presence of these interactions and the molecular signature induced by it, allowing for better patient stratification.

Potential Applications
• Early detection of high-risk breast cancer patients
• Assessment of tumor aggressiveness for personalized treatment planning
• Monitoring disease progression and response to therapy
• Liquid biopsy technologies for non-invasive diagnostics

Patents
Patent applications are being pursued for the use of neutrophil-tumor cell interactions and their molecular signaling as biomarkers for breast cancer aggressiveness and diagnostic assays.

References
Camargo, S., et al. “Neutrophils physically interact with tumor cells to form a signaling niche promoting breast cancer aggressiveness.” Nature Cancer (2025).