Cancer Letters

Cancer Letters

Volume 433, 1 October 2018, Pages 252-258
Cancer Letters

Mini-review
The dual role of mast cells in tumor fate

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2018.07.005Get rights and content

Highlights

  • The exact role of mast cells in tumor growth is not clear.

  • In some cases, mast cells stimulate while in others inhibit this process.

  • Therapy disrupts mast cell functions or actions of their mediators.

Abstract

The exact role of mast cells in tumor growth is not clear and multifaceted. In some cases, mast cells stimulate while in others inhibit this process. This dual role may be explained to some extent by the huge number of bioactive molecules stored in mast cell granules, as well as differences between tumor microenvironment, tumor type, and tumor phase of development.

Section snippets

Bioactive molecules stored in mast cell granules, mast cell receptors and immunological and non-immunological activities of mast cells

First described by Paul Ehrlich in 1878, mast cells classically viewed as effectors of allergy, are considered to be multifunctional immune cells involved in several disease conditions. Mast cells have a widespread tissue distribution and are found predominantly at the interface between the host and the external environment. Mast cells are located at host/environment interfaces like skin (where represent about 10% of the immune cells), airways, and gastro-intestinal (where represent about 10%

Mast cells and tumors

The association between chronic inflammation and cancer has long been recognized. Rudolf Virchow in 1863 critically recognized the presence of inflammatory cells infiltrating neoplastic tissues and first established a causative connection between the lympho-reticular infiltrate at sites of chronic inflammation and cancer [6]. In 1891, Westphal observed that in certain human tumors, mast cells were mainly localized at the periphery of the tumor [7].

Chronic inflammation directly stimulates

Experimental models

Early studies in experimentally induced epidermoid carcinoma in hamster buccal pouches by repeated topical application of dimethylbenzanthracene demonstrated sequential mast cell migration towards progressive mucosal dysplasia and subsequent development of squamous cell carcinoma [26].

Development of squamous cell carcinoma in a HPV (human papilloma virus) 16- infected transgenic mouse model of epithelial carcinogenesis provided experimental clues in favor of an early participation of mast cells

Therapeutic perspectives

There are no pharmacological agents able to suppress mast cell activation [33]. Therapeutic strategies to disrupt mast cell functions or actions of their mediators are common. Mast cells might act as a new target for the adjuvant treatment of tumors through the selective inhibition of angiogenesis, tissue remodeling and tumor promoting molecules, allowing the secretion of cytotoxic cytokines and preventing mast cell mediated immune-suppression. Pre-clinical studies in experimental models, using

Declaration of interest

None.

Conflict of interest statement

The Authors declare that there are not conflict of interest.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by a grant from “Associazione Italiana Mastocitosi” to DR.

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