Dual Nature of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)—From Cancer’s Ally to Therapeutic Target
Cancer remains a major global health challenge requiring the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Liquid biopsy is considered a promising minimally invasive tool for cancer screening, prognosis and treatment monitoring. Recent studies suggest that neutrophil extracellular traps (NET...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/15/1200 |
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| author | Karolina Buszka Claudia Dompe Kinga Derwich Izabela Pieścikowska Michał Nowicki Joanna Budna-Tukan |
| author_facet | Karolina Buszka Claudia Dompe Kinga Derwich Izabela Pieścikowska Michał Nowicki Joanna Budna-Tukan |
| author_sort | Karolina Buszka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cancer remains a major global health challenge requiring the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Liquid biopsy is considered a promising minimally invasive tool for cancer screening, prognosis and treatment monitoring. Recent studies suggest that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) may also be potential liquid biopsy markers. NETs are web-like chromatin structures released by neutrophils in response to various stimuli to trap and neutralize pathogens. However, excessive or dysregulated NET formation has been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis. Elevated levels of NETs have been observed in patients with various types of cancer and correlate with disease stage and prognosis. The presence of NET markers such as citrullinated histone H3 (H3Cit), neutrophil elastase (NE) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) has been associated with higher tumor burden and poorer clinical outcomes. Several studies have shown a positive correlation between NET markers and circulating free DNA (cfDNA) levels, suggesting that NETs may increase the sensitivity of liquid biopsy in detecting and monitoring cancer progression. This review examines the role of NETs in the tumor microenvironment, their contribution to cancer progression and metastasis, and their potential use in liquid biopsy and cancer therapy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1e50dbef00e14a64925d8b036b0ee6e4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj-art-1e50dbef00e14a64925d8b036b0ee6e42025-08-20T04:00:54ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-08-011415120010.3390/cells14151200Dual Nature of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)—From Cancer’s Ally to Therapeutic TargetKarolina Buszka0Claudia Dompe1Kinga Derwich2Izabela Pieścikowska3Michał Nowicki4Joanna Budna-Tukan5Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, PolandDoctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-812 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, PolandCancer remains a major global health challenge requiring the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Liquid biopsy is considered a promising minimally invasive tool for cancer screening, prognosis and treatment monitoring. Recent studies suggest that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) may also be potential liquid biopsy markers. NETs are web-like chromatin structures released by neutrophils in response to various stimuli to trap and neutralize pathogens. However, excessive or dysregulated NET formation has been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis. Elevated levels of NETs have been observed in patients with various types of cancer and correlate with disease stage and prognosis. The presence of NET markers such as citrullinated histone H3 (H3Cit), neutrophil elastase (NE) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) has been associated with higher tumor burden and poorer clinical outcomes. Several studies have shown a positive correlation between NET markers and circulating free DNA (cfDNA) levels, suggesting that NETs may increase the sensitivity of liquid biopsy in detecting and monitoring cancer progression. This review examines the role of NETs in the tumor microenvironment, their contribution to cancer progression and metastasis, and their potential use in liquid biopsy and cancer therapy.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/15/1200neutrophilsneutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)tumorsliquid biopsymetastasisbiomarkers |
| spellingShingle | Karolina Buszka Claudia Dompe Kinga Derwich Izabela Pieścikowska Michał Nowicki Joanna Budna-Tukan Dual Nature of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)—From Cancer’s Ally to Therapeutic Target Cells neutrophils neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) tumors liquid biopsy metastasis biomarkers |
| title | Dual Nature of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)—From Cancer’s Ally to Therapeutic Target |
| title_full | Dual Nature of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)—From Cancer’s Ally to Therapeutic Target |
| title_fullStr | Dual Nature of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)—From Cancer’s Ally to Therapeutic Target |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dual Nature of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)—From Cancer’s Ally to Therapeutic Target |
| title_short | Dual Nature of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)—From Cancer’s Ally to Therapeutic Target |
| title_sort | dual nature of neutrophil extracellular traps nets from cancer s ally to therapeutic target |
| topic | neutrophils neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) tumors liquid biopsy metastasis biomarkers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/15/1200 |
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