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1
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are ectopic lymphoid aggregates that develop in non-lymphoid tissues during chronic inflammation and tumor development.
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2
TLS exhibit significant heterogeneity in breast cancer, influenced by maturity, spatial location, molecular subtype, and immune cellular composition.
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3
TLS maturation stages include early TLS (eTLS), primary follicle-like TLS (pTLS), and mature TLS (mTLS), each with distinct histological and functional characteristics.
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4
TLS are associated with local adaptive immune responses, supporting antigen presentation, T-cell priming, and B-cell activation in the tumor microenvironment.
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5
The clinical significance of TLS in breast cancer is complex and context-dependent, with varying associations to prognosis and treatment response.
