Roles of neutrophils in cancer growth and progression

Abstract

Chronic inflammation is a well-known tumor-enabling capacity, which allows nascent tumors to acquire all the hallmark capabilities, including the escape from immunosurveillance. Soluble and cellular inflammatory mediators constitute the complex network of the tumor microenvironment, in which tumors grow and with which constantly interact. Myeloid cells (e.g., tumor associated macrophages) are pivotal players of the tumor microenvironment and are characterized by plasticity, which consists of the ability to acquire distinct phenotypes in response to the microenvironment in which they reside. Neutrophils are emerging as important players of tumor microenvironment, given their heterogeneity and plasticity. Increasing evidence suggests a dual role for neutrophils in modulating tumor behavior and highlights the need for a reassessment of neutrophil functions in cancer initiation and progression.

Epidermal activation of Hedgehog signaling establishes an immunosuppressive microenvironment in basal cell carcinoma by modulating skin immunity

“…Intriguingly, depletion of neutrophils enhanced the growth of tumor lesions in Ptch Dep mice ( Fig. 4d and 4e), suggesting that neutrophils, known for their tumor-promoting function in a variety of malignant entities (Galdiero et al, 2018), may constitute an as yet unknown component of the anti-tumoral immune response in BCC. Future studies are required to better understand the possible anti-cancer activity of neutrophils in the context of HH/GLIdriven BCC.…”

“…For instance, neutrophils have been shown to enhance MHC-I expression, thereby increasing the anti-tumoral response of adaptive immunity. Further, tumorassociated neutrophils can promote the proliferation of effector T cells and impede tumor progression by the release of pro-apoptotic TRAIL (reviewed in (Galdiero et al, 2018).…”

Progress in Liquid Biopsy: A possible role of neutrophils

“…It is generally considered that during the development of various cancers, including oral cancer, inflammatory factors that are released by tumor cells, including reactive oxygen species and IL-8, may recruit peripheral blood neutrophils to local tumor microenvironments [7][8][9]. This may play important roles in promoting tumor proliferation and metastasis [10,11].…”

Getting TANned: How the tumor microenvironment drives neutrophil recruitment

“…Recent studies also document the morphological and functional heterogeneity among TANs and their association with protumor or antitumor responses depending on the TME they are part of . The mechanisms by which TANs promote or hinder tumorigenesis and metastatic spread, have been reviewed elsewhere . However, limited information is available on the mechanisms driving neutrophil trafficking to the primary tumor niche and migration to distant organs in some cases, preceding the metastasized tumor cells …”