Fig. 5.

ASC cross-talk with chemo-residual TNBC cells- implications for tumor recurrence. A Chemo-residual TNBC cells secrete the chemokine SDF1α, resulting in recruitment of ASCs, which express the SDF1α chemokine receptor CXCR4, to the tumor site. B ASCs secrete FGF2, which binds to an FGF2 receptor on chemo-residual tumor cells, initiating signaling that drives tumor cell proliferation. Considering that chemo-residual tumor cells can remain dormant in patients for months to years, this ASC/chemo-residual tumor cell cross-talk likely contributes to tumor recurrence in patients post-chemotherapy treatment