Neutrophils in cancer: At the crucial crossroads of anti‐tumor and pro‐tumor

Abstract Neutrophils are important components of the immune system and play a key role in defending against pathogenic infections and responding to inflammatory cues, including cancer. Their dysregulation indicates potential disease risk factors. However, their functional importance in disease progr...

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Main Authors: Wenpeng Cai, Tao Fan, Chu Xiao, Ziqin Deng, Yixiao Liu, Chunxiang Li, Jie He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Cancer Communications
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cac2.70027
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author Wenpeng Cai
Tao Fan
Chu Xiao
Ziqin Deng
Yixiao Liu
Chunxiang Li
Jie He
author_facet Wenpeng Cai
Tao Fan
Chu Xiao
Ziqin Deng
Yixiao Liu
Chunxiang Li
Jie He
author_sort Wenpeng Cai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Neutrophils are important components of the immune system and play a key role in defending against pathogenic infections and responding to inflammatory cues, including cancer. Their dysregulation indicates potential disease risk factors. However, their functional importance in disease progression has often been underestimated due to their short half‐life, especially as there is limited information on the role of intratumoral neutrophils. Recent studies on their prominent role in cancer have led to a paradigm shift in our understanding of the functional diversity of neutrophils. These studies highlight that neutrophils have emerged as key components of the tumor microenvironment, where they can play a dual role in promoting and suppressing cancer. Moreover, several approaches to therapeutically target neutrophils have emerged, and clinical trials are investigating their efficacy. In this review, we discussed the involvement of neutrophils in cancer initiation and progression. We summarized recent advances in therapeutic strategies targeting neutrophils and, most importantly, suggested future research directions that could facilitate the manipulation of neutrophils for therapeutic purposes in cancer patients.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
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series Cancer Communications
spelling doaj-art-a253832f3b4e4ba6921c4f1bcaf2e6c92025-08-20T08:40:33ZengWileyCancer Communications2523-35482025-08-0145888891310.1002/cac2.70027Neutrophils in cancer: At the crucial crossroads of anti‐tumor and pro‐tumorWenpeng Cai0Tao Fan1Chu Xiao2Ziqin Deng3Yixiao Liu4Chunxiang Li5Jie He6Department of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing P. R. ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing P. R. ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing P. R. ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing P. R. ChinaDepartment of Colorectal Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing P. R. ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing P. R. ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing P. R. ChinaAbstract Neutrophils are important components of the immune system and play a key role in defending against pathogenic infections and responding to inflammatory cues, including cancer. Their dysregulation indicates potential disease risk factors. However, their functional importance in disease progression has often been underestimated due to their short half‐life, especially as there is limited information on the role of intratumoral neutrophils. Recent studies on their prominent role in cancer have led to a paradigm shift in our understanding of the functional diversity of neutrophils. These studies highlight that neutrophils have emerged as key components of the tumor microenvironment, where they can play a dual role in promoting and suppressing cancer. Moreover, several approaches to therapeutically target neutrophils have emerged, and clinical trials are investigating their efficacy. In this review, we discussed the involvement of neutrophils in cancer initiation and progression. We summarized recent advances in therapeutic strategies targeting neutrophils and, most importantly, suggested future research directions that could facilitate the manipulation of neutrophils for therapeutic purposes in cancer patients.https://doi.org/10.1002/cac2.70027tumor‐associated neutrophiltumor microenvironmentcancer therapyimmunology
spellingShingle Wenpeng Cai
Tao Fan
Chu Xiao
Ziqin Deng
Yixiao Liu
Chunxiang Li
Jie He
Neutrophils in cancer: At the crucial crossroads of anti‐tumor and pro‐tumor
Cancer Communications
tumor‐associated neutrophil
tumor microenvironment
cancer therapy
immunology
title Neutrophils in cancer: At the crucial crossroads of anti‐tumor and pro‐tumor
title_full Neutrophils in cancer: At the crucial crossroads of anti‐tumor and pro‐tumor
title_fullStr Neutrophils in cancer: At the crucial crossroads of anti‐tumor and pro‐tumor
title_full_unstemmed Neutrophils in cancer: At the crucial crossroads of anti‐tumor and pro‐tumor
title_short Neutrophils in cancer: At the crucial crossroads of anti‐tumor and pro‐tumor
title_sort neutrophils in cancer at the crucial crossroads of anti tumor and pro tumor
topic tumor‐associated neutrophil
tumor microenvironment
cancer therapy
immunology
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cac2.70027
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