1054-Palmitic Acid in Breast Cancer Lung Metastasis

Paper Talk · May 30, 2026 · 24m

The research examines how palmitic acid (PA) facilitates the spread of triple-negative breast cancer to the lungs by modifying the local environment before tumor cells even arrive. The study identifies that pulmonary endothelial cells serve as a primary source of PA, which triggers neutrophils to release the protein lipocalin-2 (LCN2) via the TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway. This process degrades vascular tight junctions, specifically targeting ZO-1, thereby compromising the blood vessel barrier and allowing circulating cancer cells to exit into the lung tissue. Furthermore, the researchers…