Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. It is a highly variable disease, defined as a malignancy of the epithelial ducts in breast tissue. Characterizing the vast heterogeneity within BC cells and their surrounding tumor microenvironment is crucial because this diversity is the primary reason for treatment resistance, disease progression and poor patient prognosis.

In a new study from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, researchers assembled a comprehensive single-cell atlas of the human breast, combining data from 138 patients and more than 600,000 single cells. They then were able to identify cell populations and cell states that previously were unclear or missed and linked these cell types to tumor features (like subtype and grade) and patient outcomes.  

Cancer survivors who consumed higher amounts of ultraprocessed foods as part of their diet had a significantly increased risk of both all-cause and cancer-specific death.