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Molecular Cancer
Published in: Molecular Cancer 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Review

Neutrophils in cancer: prognostic role and therapeutic strategies

Authors: Alberto Ocana, Cristina Nieto-Jiménez, Atanasio Pandiella, Arnoud J Templeton

Published in: Molecular Cancer | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Expression of high levels of immune cells including neutrophils has been associated with detrimental outcome in several solid tumors and new strategies to decrease their presence and activity are currently under clinical development. Here, we review some of the relevant literature of the role of neutrophils in different stages of the oncogenic process including tumor initiation, growth, proliferation or metastatic spreading and also focus on how neutrophil counts or the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may be used as a prognostic and predictive biomarker. Strategies to avoid the deleterious effects of neutrophils in cancer and to reduce their activity are discussed. Examples for such strategies include inhibition of CXCR1 and CXCR2 to decrease migration of neutrophils to tumoral areas or the inhibition of granulocyte colony stimulating factor to decrease the amount of neutrophils which has shown efficacy in preclinical models.
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Metadata
Title
Neutrophils in cancer: prognostic role and therapeutic strategies
Authors
Alberto Ocana
Cristina Nieto-Jiménez
Atanasio Pandiella
Arnoud J Templeton
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Molecular Cancer / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1476-4598
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-017-0707-7

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