Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi, Ezeala Christian C
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2025 Apr 10;87(6):3509-3522. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000003269. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Neutrophils, the most abundant type of white blood cells in the human body, play a vital role in the immune response against infections and tissue injury. However, in the context of cancer, their function becomes more complex and context-dependent. In breast cancer, neutrophils are key players in shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME), a highly dynamic ecosystem where various cell types, extracellular matrix components, and soluble factors interact to influence tumor progression, immune evasion, and metastasis. Neutrophils in the TME are not just passive participants but actively engage in altering tumor biology, either supporting or inhibiting tumor growth depending on their polarization status. Neutrophils exhibit plasticity in their phenotype and function, which can be categorized into two polarized forms: N1 and N2. N1 neutrophils are associated with antitumor responses, promoting immune activation, direct cytotoxicity against tumor cells, and facilitating the clearance of cancerous cells through the release of reactive oxygen species, cytokines, and chemokines. Conversely, N2 neutrophils contribute to tumor progression by fostering an immunosuppressive environment, promoting angiogenesis, enhancing tumor cell migration and invasion, and aiding in the establishment of metastatic niches. This dichotomy of neutrophil polarization plays a crucial role in determining breast cancer progression, metastasis, and response to treatment.
中性粒细胞是人体中最丰富的白细胞类型，在抵抗感染和组织损伤的免疫反应中发挥着至关重要的作用。然而，在癌症背景下，它们的功能变得更加复杂且依赖于具体环境。在乳腺癌中，中性粒细胞是塑造肿瘤微环境（TME）的关键参与者，肿瘤微环境是一个高度动态的生态系统，其中各种细胞类型、细胞外基质成分和可溶性因子相互作用，影响肿瘤进展、免疫逃逸和转移。肿瘤微环境中的中性粒细胞不仅仅是被动参与者，而是根据其极化状态，积极参与改变肿瘤生物学特性，要么支持肿瘤生长，要么抑制肿瘤生长。中性粒细胞在其表型和功能上表现出可塑性，可分为两种极化形式：N1和N2。N1中性粒细胞与抗肿瘤反应相关，促进免疫激活、对肿瘤细胞的直接细胞毒性，并通过释放活性氧、细胞因子和趋化因子促进癌细胞的清除。相反，N2中性粒细胞通过营造免疫抑制环境、促进血管生成、增强肿瘤细胞迁移和侵袭以及协助建立转移龛来促进肿瘤进展。中性粒细胞极化的这种二分法在决定乳腺癌进展、转移和治疗反应方面起着关键作用。
