title: Neutrophils: important contributors to tumor progression and metastasis.
abstract: The presence of neutrophils in tumors has traditionally been considered to be indicative of a failed immune response against cancers. However, there is now evidence showing that neutrophils can promote tumor growth, and increasingly, the data support an active role for neutrophils in tumor progression to distant metastasis. Neutrophils have been implicated in promoting metastasis in cancer patients, where neutrophil numbers and neutrophil-related factors and functions have been associated with progressive disease. Nevertheless, the role of neutrophils in tumors, both at the primary and secondary sites, remains controversial, with some studies reporting their anti-tumor functions. This review will focus on the data demonstrating a role for neutrophils in both tumor growth and metastasis and will attempt to clarify the discrepancies in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia.|Arthritis and Inflammation Research Centre, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swierczak
authors.affiliation: Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia.|Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.
authors.forename: Kellie A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Mouchemore
authors.affiliation: Arthritis and Inflammation Research Centre, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia. robin.anderson@petermac.org.|Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia. robin.anderson@petermac.org.|Department of Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia. robin.anderson@petermac.org.
authors.forename: Robin L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000276:immunology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D011379:Prognosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Cancer; Inflammation; Metastasis; Neutrophils