I Heart Research (IMAGE) BMC (BioMed Central) Caption Breast cancer is the most widely diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, and despite advances in treatment, still remains a major cause of cancer-related death. We are interested in the interactions between the cancer cells themselves and the surrounding stroma -- the tumor microenvironment. Our research is currently in the process of investigating how certain signalling pathways can facilitate this communication. Breast cancer is a horrible disease, but the exciting results we are in the process of obtaining are opening up new possibilities for treatment options.This particular image is a fluorescently stained mouse mammary tumor. This mouse has been genetically engineered to develop cancer in the way that humans develop breast cancer, allowing us to study progression of the disease. Mammary cells start to grow and divide, forming small tumors throughout the mammary gland, which then go on to eventually form large and invasive malignancies. We are able to use specialist microscopes and imaging equipment to capture many different proteins labelled all within the same sample. This tumor is stained for the active form of a protein (red), which is involved in regulating cell cytoskeleton and movement. As cancer develops, levels of this protein may increase, as cells start to become invasive and more motile. Cell-cell junctions are stained in yellow and cell nuclei in magenta. Credit Sarah Boyle Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.