The evolution and heterogeneity of neutrophils in cancers: origins, subsets, functions, orchestrations and clinical applications

Siyao Liu; Wenchuan Wu; Yueshan Du; Hanlin Yin; Qiangda Chen; Weisheng Yu; Wenquan Wang; Jun Yu; Liang Liu; Wenhui Lou; Ning Pu

doi:10.1186/s12943-023-01843-6

The evolution and heterogeneity of neutrophils in cancers: origins, subsets, functions, orchestrations and clinical applications

Mol Cancer. 2023 Sep 7;22(1):148. doi: 10.1186/s12943-023-01843-6.

Authors

Siyao Liu^#^{1

2

3}, Wenchuan Wu^#^{1

2

3}, Yueshan Du^#^{1

2

3}, Hanlin Yin^{1

2

3}, Qiangda Chen^{1

2

3}, Weisheng Yu^{1

2

3}, Wenquan Wang^{1

2

3}, Jun Yu⁴, Liang Liu^{5

6

7}, Wenhui Lou^{8

9

10}, Ning Pu^{11

12

13}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China.
² Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
³ Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
⁴ Departments of Medicine and Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
⁵ Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China. liu.liang@zs-hospital.sh.cn.
⁶ Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. liu.liang@zs-hospital.sh.cn.
⁷ Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. liu.liang@zs-hospital.sh.cn.
⁸ Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China. lou.wenhui@zs-hospital.sh.cn.
⁹ Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. lou.wenhui@zs-hospital.sh.cn.
¹⁰ Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. lou.wenhui@zs-hospital.sh.cn.
¹¹ Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China. npu15@fudan.edu.cn.
¹² Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. npu15@fudan.edu.cn.
¹³ Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. npu15@fudan.edu.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Neutrophils, the most prevalent innate immune cells in humans, have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their involvement in cancer progression. This comprehensive review aimed to elucidate the important roles and underlying mechanisms of neutrophils in cancer from the perspective of their whole life cycle, tracking them from development in the bone marrow to circulation and finally to the tumor microenvironment (TME). Based on an understanding of their heterogeneity, we described the relationship between abnormal neutrophils and clinical manifestations in cancer. Specifically, we explored the function, origin, and polarization of neutrophils within the TME. Furthermore, we also undertook an extensive analysis of the intricate relationship between neutrophils and clinical management, including neutrophil-based clinical treatment strategies. In conclusion, we firmly assert that directing future research endeavors towards comprehending the remarkable heterogeneity exhibited by neutrophils is of paramount importance.

Keywords: Clinical applications; Functions; Heterogeneity; Neutrophils; Orchestrations; Origins; Subsets; TANs (tumor-associated neutrophils).

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Neoplasms* / genetics
Neutrophils*
Tumor Microenvironment