Abstract
The mammary gland is a heterogeneous organ comprising of immune cells, surrounding adipose stromal cells, vascular cells, mammary epithelial, and cancer stem cells. In response to nutritional stimuli, dynamic interactions amongst these cell populations can be modulated, consequently leading to an alteration of the glandular function, physiology, and ultimately disease pathogenesis. For example, obesity, a chronic over-nutritional condition, is known to disrupt homeostasis within the mammary gland and increase risk of breast cancer development. In contrast, emerging evidence has demonstrated that fasting or caloric restriction can negatively impact mammary tumorigenesis. However, how fasting induces phenotypic and functional population differences in the mammary microenvironment is not well understood. In this review, we will provide a detailed overview on the effect of nutritional conditions (i.e., overnutrition or fasting) on the mammary gland microenvironment and its impact on mammary tumor progression.