The Multifaceted Role of Neutrophils in NSCLC in the Era of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Authors

Shucheng Miao
Bertha Leticia Rodriguez
Don L Gibbons

Publication Date

7-10-2024

Journal

Cancers

DOI

10.3390/cancers16142507

PMID

39061147

PMCID

PMC11274601

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

July 2024

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in both males and females in the U.S. and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85%. Although the use of first- or second-line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) exhibits remarkable clinical benefits, resistance to ICIs develops over time and dampens the efficacy of ICIs in patients. Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) have an important role in modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor immune response. The major challenge in the field is to characterize the TANs in NSCLC TME and understand the link between TAN-related immunosuppression with ICI treatment response. In this review, we summarize the current studies of neutrophil interaction with malignant cells, T-cells, and other components in the TME. Ongoing clinical trials are aimed at utilizing reagents that have putative effects on tumor-associated neutrophils, in combination with ICI. Elevated neutrophil populations and neutrophil-associated factors could be potential therapeutic targets to enhance anti-PD1 treatment in NSCLC.

Keywords

neutrophils, non-small-cell lung cancer, tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Shucheng Miao, Bertha Leticia Rodriguez, and Don L Gibbons, "The Multifaceted Role of Neutrophils in NSCLC in the Era of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors" (2024). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 864.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthgsbs_docs/864