Extracellular trap (ET) formation is a unique cell death process, distinguished by the production of mesh structures composed of the DNA skeleton, histones, granular proteins, and cytoplasmic proteins and enzymes by immune cells after stimulation. Immune cell ETs aid the elimination of pathogens, though they may also disrupt the body’s normal development and homeostasis. Neutrophils and macrophages are the immune cells currently known to produce ETs.
Research has shown that ETs casted by tumor-infiltrating neutrophils and macrophages can contribute to cancer progression, though their clinical significance is yet to be fully elucidated. Research on ETs currently focuses on neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which have been shown to promote the progression of many tumor types and correlate with poor patient prognosis. Additionally, NETs have been shown to promote the invasion and migration of circulating tumor cells.
It has recently been identified that macrophages too may form ETs, referred to as macrophage extracellular traps (METs), which are involved in various pathologies. METs have been shown to be involved in host responses to various bacteria, acute kidney injury, and non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. However, the role METs play in the pathogenesis of other cancer progression is not yet understood.
While the importance of NETs in promoting cancer growth has been presented in various studies, more research is required to understand their role in the TME. It has been hypothesized that NETs may promote an immunosuppressive TME, and thereby promote tumor growth, though more research is needed to elucidate this.
In this Research Topic, we aim to provide an update on the role of NETs and METS in promoting tumor progression, regulating the TME, and affecting tumors. We also encourage submissions highlighting novel cancer immunotherapies targeting ETs or the effect of immunotherapies on ETs production.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Clinical Trial, Opinion, and Perspective articles focusing on Extracellular DNA Traps in Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy. We welcome submissions covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• The roles of tumor-infiltrating macrophages and METs in cancer progression
• The roles of tumor-infiltrating neutrophils and NETs in cancer progression
• Impact of NETs and METs on the tumor microenvironment
• Targeting NETs and METs as cancer immunotherapy
• Use of novel techniques to understand the roles of NETs and METs in cancer immunity
*NOTE: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation are considered out of the scope of this Research Topic.
Extracellular trap (ET) formation is a unique cell death process, distinguished by the production of mesh structures composed of the DNA skeleton, histones, granular proteins, and cytoplasmic proteins and enzymes by immune cells after stimulation. Immune cell ETs aid the elimination of pathogens, though they may also disrupt the body’s normal development and homeostasis. Neutrophils and macrophages are the immune cells currently known to produce ETs.
Research has shown that ETs casted by tumor-infiltrating neutrophils and macrophages can contribute to cancer progression, though their clinical significance is yet to be fully elucidated. Research on ETs currently focuses on neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which have been shown to promote the progression of many tumor types and correlate with poor patient prognosis. Additionally, NETs have been shown to promote the invasion and migration of circulating tumor cells.
It has recently been identified that macrophages too may form ETs, referred to as macrophage extracellular traps (METs), which are involved in various pathologies. METs have been shown to be involved in host responses to various bacteria, acute kidney injury, and non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. However, the role METs play in the pathogenesis of other cancer progression is not yet understood.
While the importance of NETs in promoting cancer growth has been presented in various studies, more research is required to understand their role in the TME. It has been hypothesized that NETs may promote an immunosuppressive TME, and thereby promote tumor growth, though more research is needed to elucidate this.
In this Research Topic, we aim to provide an update on the role of NETs and METS in promoting tumor progression, regulating the TME, and affecting tumors. We also encourage submissions highlighting novel cancer immunotherapies targeting ETs or the effect of immunotherapies on ETs production.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Clinical Trial, Opinion, and Perspective articles focusing on Extracellular DNA Traps in Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy. We welcome submissions covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• The roles of tumor-infiltrating macrophages and METs in cancer progression
• The roles of tumor-infiltrating neutrophils and NETs in cancer progression
• Impact of NETs and METs on the tumor microenvironment
• Targeting NETs and METs as cancer immunotherapy
• Use of novel techniques to understand the roles of NETs and METs in cancer immunity
*NOTE: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation are considered out of the scope of this Research Topic.
