title: Role of mast cells in tumor growth.
abstract: The growth of malignant tumors is determined in large part by the proliferative capacity of the tumor cells. Clinical observations and animal experiments have established that tumor cells elicit immune responses. Histopathologic studies show that many tumors are surrounded by mononuclear cell and mast cell infiltrates. Mast cells are ubiquitous in the body and are critical for allergic reactions. Increasing evidence indicates that mast cells secrete proinflammatory cytokines and are involved in neuro-inflammatory processes and cancer. Mast cells accumulate in the stroma surrounding certain tumors, especially mammary adenocarcinoma, and the molecules they secrete can benefit the tumor. However, mast cells can also increase at the site of tumor growth and participate in tumor rejection. Mast cells may be recruited by tumor-derived chemoattractants and selectively secrete molecules such as growth factors, histamine, heparin, VEGF, and IL-8, as well as proteases that permit the formation of new blood vessels and metastases. Tumor mast cell intersections play regulatory and modulatory roles affecting various aspects of tumor growth. Discovery of these new roles of mast cells further complicates the understanding of tumor growth. This review focuses on the strategic importance of mast cells to the progression of tumors, and proposes a revised immune effector mechanism of mast cell involvement in tumor growth.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Division, Department of Oncology and Neuro-science, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Pio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Castellani
authors.forename: Durasamy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kempuraj
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salini
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vecchiet
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tetè
authors.forename: Filiberto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mastrangelo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perrella
authors.forename: Maria Anna
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Lutiis
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tagen
authors.forename: Theoharis C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Theoharides
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006632:Histamine