Table 2 Summary of crucial cellular components in breast cancer TME described in this review

Breast cancer cells

ERα⁻HER2⁻Survivin^high

Significantly correlated with resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Wagner et al. [26]

TNBC

“cluster 2”

GLTP, SPTLC1, S1PR1, GPI/AMF, F11R, CCL20, CCL22

Significantly correlated with worse survival outcomes of the TNBC

Karaayvaz et al. [30]

CAFs

myCAF

“cluster 0, 3, 4, 6, 7”

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins; TGFβ signaling pathway; wound healing; IFNαβ; acto-myosin pathway

Significantly correlated with an immunosuppressive environment

Kieffer et al. [51]

Glycoproteins (Dcn, Lum, and Vcan); structural proteins (Col14a1); matricellular proteins (Fbln1, Fbln2, and Smoc); Matrix-modifying enzymes (Lox and Loxl1); CXCL14; Fibulin-1; PDGFRα

The relative number of mCAFs decreased during tumor progression

Bartoschek et al. [43]

Notch3, Epas1, Col18a1, Nr2f2, Cspg4, Rgs5, Pdgfrb, Des, Cd248

An independent risk factor of distant metastasis

Bartoschek et al. [43]

Perivascular markers including MCAM (CD146), CAV1, RGS5, MYH11, TAGLN (SM-22-Alpha); ACTA2 (⍺-SMA), PDGFRB, THY1 (CD90), S100A4 (FSP-1), ITGB1 (CD29)

Strongly correlated with CTL exclusion; A potential biomarker for identifying patients suitable for vessel-targeted therapeutic strategies

Wu et al. [58]

CXCL12, CD40, B7H3, DPP4, CD73, C5, IL6,TGFβ

Strongly associated with CTL dysfunction and myeloid cells regulation

Wu et al. [58]

Immune cells

CD8 + T cells

T_RM

ITGAE, CD103, GZMB, perforin (PRF1), HAVCR2 (TIM3), PDCD1 (PD1), CTLA4, TIGIT and LAG3; low expression of KLF2, SELL, S1PR1, S1PR5 and KLRG1;

Associated with improved prognosis and longer OS in early-stage TNBC; A predictor of a better response to anti-PD-1 therapy

Savas.et al. [73]

Myeloid cells

TAM

PD-L1+ CD64^highHLA-DR^high

Associated with tumor aggression

Wagner et al. [26]

ICOSL+

Correlated with improved neoadjuvant chemotherapy effect; An independent positive prognostic factor for DFS and OS of breast cancer.

Lu et al. [132]