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Neutrophils in cancer—unresolved questions

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  • SCLS-CBIS Joint Life Science Research Workshop
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Abstract

There is growing recognition that neutrophils play an important role in cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. Although they are typically characterized as short-lived effector cells, neutrophils have been shown to acquire immunosuppressive and pro-tumorigenic functions that promote tumor progression and escape. As such, inhibition of their function or depletion of neutrophils are being explored as potential cancer therapies. However, growing evidence of neutrophil diversification in cancer and their potential anti-tumor roles raise many unresolved questions. Here, we review recent advances that address the definition, origin and function of neutrophils in cancer, and elaborate on obstacles that make the study of neutrophils challenging. We envision that this review will provide the groundwork for focused design of therapeutics that will specifically target “tumorreprogrammed” neutrophils while sparing normal neutrophils to improve patient outcomes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Singapore Immunology Network (SigN) core funding, A*STAR, Singapore to L.G.N. The authors apologize to the many scientists who made contributions to the field but were not cited due to space limitations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Biopolis, 138648, Singapore

    Melissa S. F. Ng, Leonard Tan & Lai Guan Ng

  2. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250014, China

    Quanbo Wang & Charles R. Mackay

  3. State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300020, China

    Lai Guan Ng

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  1. Melissa S. F. Ng
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Ng, M.S.F., Tan, L., Wang, Q. et al. Neutrophils in cancer—unresolved questions. Sci. China Life Sci. 64, 1829–1841 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-020-1853-4

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