title: The diversity of circulating neutrophils in cancer.
abstract: Neutrophils, the most abundant leukocyte in human circulation are being more and more recognized as part of the immune reaction to cancer. In the last years, the understanding that neutrophils possess a dual role in cancer development has emerged. During tumor progression the number of neutrophils increase, and their phenotype change. In advanced cancer, we can find several sub-populations of circulating neutrophils possessing different characteristics of maturity, tumor cytotoxicity and immune suppression. One important sub-population of circulating neutrophils is the granulocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (G-MDSC). Differencing G-MDSC from other sub-populations of neutrophils in the circulation is a complex and controversial task, as there are no clear definitions of the differences between these granulocytic sub-populations. Herein we review the differences described thus far between G-MDSC and other circulating neutrophils. We then compare the morphology, surface markers, function and prognostic importance of the different tumor-related circulating neutrophils, as described by us and others, and discuss the possible relations between the different sub-populations, their source and fate. Lastly, we suggest a nomenclature to try and encompass the full range of circulating neutrophils in cancer.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pulmonary Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, POB 12000, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
authors.forename: Inbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mishalian
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Granot
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pulmonary Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, POB 12000, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. Electronic address: fridlender@hadassah.org.il.
authors.forename: Zvi G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Fridlender
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007249:Inflammation; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D000072737:Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Cancer; Neutrophils; Tumor immunology