title: Toll-like receptor stimulation in cancer: A pro- and anti-tumor double-edged sword.
abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of transmembrane receptors that recognize various pathogen- and damage-associated molecular pattern molecules playing an important role in inflammation by activating NF-кB. TLRs, mainly expressed by innate immune cells, are involved in inducing and regulating adaptive immune responses. However, the expression of TLRs has also been observed in many tumors, and their stimulation results in tumor progression or regression, depending on the TLR and tumor type. Here we review the role of TLRs in conferring anti- or pro-tumoral effects. The anti-tumoral effects can result from direct induction of tumor cell death and/or activation of efficient anti-tumoral immune responses, and the pro-tumoral effects may be due to inducing tumor cell survival and proliferation or by acting on suppressive or inflammatory immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), UMRS1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris F-75006, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMRS1138, Paris F-75006, France; Université Paris Descartes, UMRS1138, Paris F-75006, France.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dajon
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), UMRS1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris F-75006, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMRS1138, Paris F-75006, France; Université Paris Descartes, UMRS1138, Paris F-75006, France.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iribarren
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), UMRS1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris F-75006, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMRS1138, Paris F-75006, France; Université Paris Descartes, UMRS1138, Paris F-75006, France. Electronic address: isabelle.cremer@crc.jussieu.fr.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cremer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000235:genetics; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
keywords: Anti-tumoral effect; Immune cells; Pro-tumoral effect; TLR; TLR signaling; Tumor cells