In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that higher expression of α-SMA (HR = 2.79, 95% CI [1.62–4.83], P = 0.0002), PDPN (HR = 2.57, 95% CI [1.48–4.46], P = 0.0008) and PDGFR-β (HR = 1.40, 95% CI [1.00–1.96], P = 0.0470) in CAFs were associated with shorter RFS/DFS/MFS/EFS of breast cancer patients respectively (Table 1). Here, PDPN is linked to breast cancer.