Role of tumor-associated neutrophils in lung cancer (Review)

Lung cancer is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide; therefore, it is very important to understand the mechanism of its occurrence and progression. It has reported that inflammation is linked to the incidence of various malignancies. Neutrophils not only participate in the inflammatory response, but are also involved in the composition of the tumor microenvironment. Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) are infiltrating neutrophils in tumors that directly promote tumor development and progression. Moreover, they regulate the immune microenvironment and affect the therapeutic efficacy and prognosis of lung cancer. In the present review, the role of TANs in lung cancer development/progression and the underlying molecular signaling are evaluated, as well as the possibility of TANs as a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer intervention.