Plasticity beyond cancer cells and the "immunosuppressive switch"

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Tumor initiation, growth, and metastasis depend on cellular plasticity.
• Cancer research has focused on tumor cell plasticity.
• Emerging evidence highlights functional plasticity in tumor microenvironment stromal and immune cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the functional plasticity of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment.
• To highlight the specific role of neutrophils (circulating and tumor-associated) in cancer.
• To discuss how immune cell plasticity impacts tumor progression and immune suppression.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on cellular plasticity in cancer.
• Focus on immune cell functional plasticity, especially neutrophils.
• Analysis of mechanisms by which plasticity influences tumor microenvironment and progression.

Main Results:

• Immune cells, particularly neutrophils, exhibit significant functional plasticity in cancer.
• This plasticity can either support or impede tumor progression.
• Neutrophil plasticity contributes to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.

Conclusions:

• Immune cell plasticity is a critical factor in cancer progression.
• Neutrophils play a key role in modulating the tumor microenvironment through their plasticity.
• Targeting immune cell plasticity may offer novel therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.