Neutrophils, the most abundant circulating white blood cells, are essential for the initial immune response to infection and injury. Emerging research reveals a dualistic function of neutrophils in cancer, where they can promote or inhibit tumor progression. This dichotomy is influenced by the tumor microenvironment, with neutrophils capable of remodeling the extracellular matrix, promoting angiogenesis, or alternatively inducing cancer cell death and enhancing immune responses. An intriguing yet poorly understood aspect of neutrophil–cancer interactions is the phenomenon of neutrophil engulfment by cancer cells, which has been observed across various cancers. This process, potentially mediated by LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP), raises questions about whether it serves as a mechanism for immune evasion or contributes to tumor cell death through pathways like ferroptosis. This review examines current knowledge on neutrophil development, their roles in cancer, and the mechanisms of LAP in neutrophil engulfment by tumor cells. We discuss how manipulating LAP impacts cancer progression and may represent a therapeutic strategy. We also explore neutrophils’ potential as delivery vehicles for cancer therapeutic agents. Understanding the complex functions of tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) and the molecular mechanisms underlying LAP in cancer may open new avenues for effective therapeutic interventions and mitigate potential risks.
中性粒细胞作为循环中最丰富的白细胞，在感染和损伤的初始免疫应答中至关重要。新兴研究揭示了中性粒细胞在癌症中的双重功能：既可促进亦可抑制肿瘤进展。这种二元性受肿瘤微环境影响，中性粒细胞能够重塑细胞外基质、促进血管生成，或反之诱导癌细胞死亡并增强免疫应答。中性粒细胞与癌细胞相互作用中一个引人注目却尚未明晰的现象是癌细胞对中性粒细胞的吞噬作用，该现象已在多种癌症中被观察到。这一可能由LC3相关吞噬作用介导的过程引发了一系列疑问：它究竟是免疫逃逸的机制，还是通过铁死亡等途径促进肿瘤细胞死亡的方式？本综述系统梳理了当前关于中性粒细胞发育、其在癌症中的作用以及肿瘤细胞吞噬中性粒细胞的LAP机制的研究进展。我们探讨了调控LAP如何影响癌症进程，并可能成为治疗策略；同时分析了中性粒细胞作为癌症治疗载体载体的潜力。深入理解肿瘤相关中性粒细胞（TANs）的复杂功能及LAP在癌症中的分子机制，或将为开发有效治疗干预措施开辟新途径，并有助于规避潜在风险。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家