Figure 1.

Schematic representation of correlation among obesity and TNBC. Adipocyte accumulation results in the secretion of inflammatory factors (i.e., ILs, TNFα), adipokines (i.e., leptin, resistin, apelin), and matrix mediators (i.e., IGFR), which establish a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment that boosts TNBC cells’ aggressive properties, including proliferation, invasion, and EMT. These contribute to metabolic modifications of the tumor microenvironment, initiating a pre-metastatic niche that contributes to breast cancer progression and acquired drug resistance. Created with Biorender.com. Abbreviations: EMT, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; IGFR, insulin-like growth factor receptor; IL, interleukin; TNF, transforming growth factor.