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Neutrophils and granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells: immunophenotyping, cell biology and clinical relevance in human oncology

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Abstract

Accumulating evidence indicates that myeloid cells are critically involved in the pathophysiology of human cancers. In contrast to the well-characterized tumor-associated macrophages, the significance of granulocytes in cancer has only recently begun to emerge. A number of studies found increased numbers of neutrophil granulocytes and granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (GrMDSCs) both in the peripheral blood and in the tumor tissues of patients with different types of cancer. Most importantly, granulocytes have been linked to poor clinical outcome in cancer patients which suggests that these cells might have important tumor-promoting effects. In this review, we will address in detail the following major topics: (1) neutrophils and GrMDSCs in the peripheral blood of cancer patients—phenotype and functional changes; (2) neutrophils and GrMDSCs in the tumor tissue—potential mechanisms of tumor progression and (3) relevance of neutrophils and GrMDSCs for the clinical outcome of cancer patients. Furthermore, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the current strategies used for identification and monitoring of human MDSCs. We propose a six-color immunophenotyping protocol that discriminates between monocytic MDSCs (MoMDSCs), two subsets of GrMDSCs and two subsets of immature myeloid cells in human cancer patients, thus, allowing for an improved characterization and understanding of these multifaceted cells.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Kirsten Bruderek (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Duisburg-Essen) for excellent technical support with the immunophenotyping of MDSC from cancer patients.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45122, Essen, Germany

    Claudia A. Dumitru, Katrin Moses, Sokratis Trellakis, Stephan Lang & Sven Brandau

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  1. Claudia A. Dumitru
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  2. Katrin Moses
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  3. Sokratis Trellakis
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  4. Stephan Lang
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  5. Sven Brandau
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Correspondence to Sven Brandau.

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Dumitru, C.A., Moses, K., Trellakis, S. et al. Neutrophils and granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells: immunophenotyping, cell biology and clinical relevance in human oncology. Cancer Immunol Immunother 61, 1155–1167 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-012-1294-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-012-1294-5

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