Opposing roles of eosinophils in cancer
- 30 April 2019
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
- Vol. 68 (5), 823-833
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-018-2255-4
Abstract
Eosinophils are a subset of granulocytes mostly known for their ability to combat parasites and induce allergy. Although they were described to be related to cancer more than 100 years ago, their role in tumors is still undefined. Recent observations revealed that they display regulatory functions towards other immune cell subsets in the tumor microenvironment or direct cytotoxic functions against tumor cells, leading to either antitumor or protumor effects. This paradoxical role of eosinophils was suggested to be dependent on the different factors in the TME. In addition, the clinical relevance of these cells has been recently addressed. In most cases, the accumulation of eosinophils both in the tumor tissue, called tumor-associated tissue eosinophilia, and in the peripheral blood were reported to be prognostic markers for a better outcome of cancer patients. In immunotherapy of cancer, particularly in therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors, eosinophils were even shown to be a potential predictive marker for a beneficial clinical response. A better understanding of their role in cancer progression will help to establish them as prognostic and predictive markers and to design strategies for targeting eosinophils.Keywords
Funding Information
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (RTG2099)
- Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (CA181)
This publication has 103 references indexed in Scilit:
- Pattern‐recognition receptors in human eosinophilsImmunology, 2012
- Inverse Association of Eosinophil Count with Colorectal Cancer Incidence: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities StudyCancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 2011
- Antigen profiles for the quantitative assessment of eosinophils in mouse tissues by flow cytometryJournal of Immunological Methods, 2011
- Eosinophils Sustain Adipose Alternatively Activated Macrophages Associated with Glucose HomeostasisScience, 2011
- Cancer-Related Symptom Clusters, Eosinophils, and Survival in Hepatobiliary Cancer: An Exploratory StudyJournal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2010
- Mouse Eosinophils Possess Potent Antibacterial Properties In VivoInfection and Immunity, 2009
- Innate immunity turned inside-out: antimicrobial defense by phagocyte extracellular trapsJournal of Molecular Medicine, 2009
- Allergic pulmonary inflammation in mice is dependent on eosinophil-induced recruitment of effector T cellsThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2008
- Detection and quantitation of eosinophils in the murine respiratory tract by flow cytometryJournal of Immunological Methods, 2007
- Inflammation and necrosis promote tumour growthNature Reviews Immunology, 2004