TY - JOUR
T1 - The Effect of Radiation Treatment of Solid Tumors on Neutrophil Infiltration and Function
T2 - A Systematic Review
AU - Raymakers, L
AU - Demmers, T J
AU - Meijer, G J
AU - Molenaar, I Q
AU - Santvoort, H C van
AU - Intven, M P W
AU - Leusen, J H W
AU - Olofsen, P A
AU - Daamen, L A
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/11/1
Y1 - 2024/11/1
N2 - Radiation therapy (RT) initiates a local and systemic immune response which can induce antitumor immunity and improve immunotherapy efficacy. Neutrophils are among the first immune cells that infiltrate tumors after RT and are suggested to be essential for the initial antitumor immune response. However, neutrophils in tumors are associated with poor outcomes and RT-induced neutrophil infiltration could also change the composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in favor of tumor progression. To improve RT efficacy for patients with cancer it is important to understand the interplay between RT and neutrophils. Here, we review the literature on how RT affects the infiltration and function of neutrophils in the TME of solid tumors, using both patients studies and preclinical murine in vivo models. In general, it was found that neutrophil levels increase and reach maximal levels in the first days after RT and can remain elevated up to 3 weeks. Most studies report an immunosuppressive role of neutrophils in the TME after RT, caused by upregulated expression of neutrophil indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 and arginase 1, as well as neutrophil extracellular trap formation. RT was also associated with increased reactive oxygen species production by neutrophils, which can both improve and inhibit antitumor immunity. In addition, multiple murine models showed improved RT efficacy when depleting neutrophils, suggesting that neutrophils have a protumor phenotype after RT. We conclude that the role of neutrophils should not be overlooked when developing RT strategies and requires further investigation in specific tumor types. In addition, neutrophils can possibly be exploited to enhance RT efficacy by combining RT with neutrophil-targeting therapies.
AB - Radiation therapy (RT) initiates a local and systemic immune response which can induce antitumor immunity and improve immunotherapy efficacy. Neutrophils are among the first immune cells that infiltrate tumors after RT and are suggested to be essential for the initial antitumor immune response. However, neutrophils in tumors are associated with poor outcomes and RT-induced neutrophil infiltration could also change the composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in favor of tumor progression. To improve RT efficacy for patients with cancer it is important to understand the interplay between RT and neutrophils. Here, we review the literature on how RT affects the infiltration and function of neutrophils in the TME of solid tumors, using both patients studies and preclinical murine in vivo models. In general, it was found that neutrophil levels increase and reach maximal levels in the first days after RT and can remain elevated up to 3 weeks. Most studies report an immunosuppressive role of neutrophils in the TME after RT, caused by upregulated expression of neutrophil indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 and arginase 1, as well as neutrophil extracellular trap formation. RT was also associated with increased reactive oxygen species production by neutrophils, which can both improve and inhibit antitumor immunity. In addition, multiple murine models showed improved RT efficacy when depleting neutrophils, suggesting that neutrophils have a protumor phenotype after RT. We conclude that the role of neutrophils should not be overlooked when developing RT strategies and requires further investigation in specific tumor types. In addition, neutrophils can possibly be exploited to enhance RT efficacy by combining RT with neutrophil-targeting therapies.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85201300145&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.07.2141
DO - 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.07.2141
M3 - Review article
C2 - 39009323
SN - 0360-3016
VL - 120
SP - 845
EP - 861
JO - International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
JF - International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
IS - 3
ER -