Using a 3D spheroid model in which MCF-7 spheroids were treated with either LCN2-deficient or LCN2-containing macrophage-conditioned medium and then embedded in a collagen I matrix, it was confirmed that macrophage-derived LCN2 induces EMT and enhances the migration and invasion of MCF-7 breast cancer cells into the ECM (55). This evidence concerns the gene LCN2 and breast cancer.