Focus on mast cells in the tumor microenvironment: Current knowledge and future directions

Saimeng Shi; Longyun Ye; Xianjun Yu; Kaizhou Jin; Weiding Wu

doi:10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188845

Focus on mast cells in the tumor microenvironment: Current knowledge and future directions

Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer. 2023 Jan;1878(1):188845. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188845. Epub 2022 Dec 5.

Authors

Saimeng Shi¹, Longyun Ye¹, Xianjun Yu², Kaizhou Jin³, Weiding Wu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
² Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address: yuxianjun@fudanpci.org.
³ Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address: jinkaizhou@fudanpci.org.
⁴ Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address: wuweiding@fudanpci.org.

PMID: 36476563
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188845

Abstract

Mast cells (MCs) are crucial cells participating in both innate and adaptive immune processes that play important roles in protecting human health and in the pathophysiology of various diseases, such as allergies, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune diseases. In the context of tumors, MCs are a non-negligible population of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In most tumor types, MCs accumulate in both the tumor tissue and the surrounding tissue. MCs interact with multiple components of the TME, affecting TME remodeling and the tumor cell fate. However, controversy persists regarding whether MCs contribute to tumor progression or trigger an anti-tumor immune response. This review focuses on the context of the TME to explore the specific properties and functions of MCs and discusses the crosstalk that occurs between MCs and other components of the TME, which affect tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, and tumor immunity through different mechanisms. We also anticipate the potential role of MCs in cancer immunotherapy, which might expand upon the success achieved with existing cancer therapies.

Keywords: Cancer immunotherapy; Mast cell; Tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Immunity
Immunotherapy
Mast Cells* / pathology
Neoplasms* / pathology
Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
Tumor Microenvironment