Circulating Tumor Cell-Neutrophil Tango along the Metastatic Process

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Oncology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting T lymphocytes show promise in cancer therapy.
• Neutrophils are increasingly recognized for their significant role in tumor progression.
• Current research on immune cell involvement in cancer largely overlooks neutrophils.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the multifaceted roles of neutrophils in cancer progression.
• To explore neutrophil interactions with cancer cells at various disease stages.
• To identify novel therapeutic strategies targeting neutrophil-cancer cell crosstalk.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current research on neutrophil-cancer cell interactions.
• Analysis of protumor and antitumor functions of neutrophils.
• Examination of neutrophil roles in primary tumor infiltration, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and metastasis.

Main Results:

• Neutrophils exhibit both pro- and anti-tumor activities depending on the cancer stage.
• Neutrophil infiltration into tumors influences disease progression.
• Interactions with circulating tumor cells and metastatic niche formation involve neutrophils.

Conclusions:

• Neutrophil-cancer cell interactions offer unexplored therapeutic targets.
• Investigating neutrophils and CTCs can lead to novel immune checkpoint inhibition strategies.
• Understanding these interactions may enhance existing immunotherapies.