Tumor Associated Mast Cells: Biological Roles and Therapeutic Applications

Overview

Journal Anat Cell Biol

Specialty Anatomy & Histology

Date 2020 Sep 4

PMID 32879056

Citations 11

Authors

Shikha Saxena

Anil Singh

Priyanka Singh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Mast cells (MCs) are immune cells of the myeloid lineage and are present in connective tissues throughout the body. The activation and degranulation of MCs significantly modulates many aspects of physiological and pathological conditions in various settings. Recent data have expanded the concept that inflammation is a critical component for tumor progression. Interestingly, three of the most aggressive human cancers, malignant melanoma, breast carcinoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma, are commonly associated with a marked host response comprising of various inflammatory cells, but especially MCs around the tumor periphery. A systematic review of the literature was performed based on the English titles listed in the PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane, Science Direct, ISI web Science, and SciELO databases using the keywords. Abstracts and full-text articles were assessed. This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of MCs in tumor progression.

Citing Articles

Mast Cell Density in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Skin in Dogs and Cats.

Juodziukyniene N, Lasiene K, Savickiene N, Aniuliene A Animals (Basel). 2025; 15(3).

PMID: 39943085 PMC: 11816034. DOI: 10.3390/ani15030316.

The Complex Role of Mast Cells in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review.

Tzorakoleftheraki S, Koletsa T Medicina (Kaunas). 2024; 60(7.

PMID: 39064602 PMC: 11279237. DOI: 10.3390/medicina60071173.

Characteristics of mast cell infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma and its impact on prognosis.

Qiu Z, Pang G, Xu X, Lin J, Wang P Discov Oncol. 2024; 15(1):208.

PMID: 38834833 PMC: 11150364. DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01062-5.

The regulatory role and mechanism of mast cells in tumor microenvironment.

Ligan C, Ma X, Zhao S, Zhao W Am J Cancer Res. 2024; 14(1):1-15.

PMID: 38323271 PMC: 10839313.

Clinical and biomarker analyses of sintilimab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin as first-line treatment for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer.

Zeng T, Yang G, Lou C, Wei W, Tao C, Chen X Nat Commun. 2023; 14(1):1340.

PMID: 36906670 PMC: 10008621. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37030-w.

References

Galli S . New concepts about the mast cell. N Engl J Med. 1993; 328(4):257-65. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199301283280408. View

Tan S, Fan Y, Luo H, Shen Z, Guo Y, Zhao L . Prognostic significance of cell infiltrations of immunosurveillance in colorectal cancer. World J Gastroenterol. 2005; 11(8):1210-4. PMC: 4250716. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i8.1210. View

Norrby K . Mast cells and de novo angiogenesis: Angiogenic capability of individual mast-cell mediators such as histamine, TNF, IL-8 and bFGF. Inflamm Res. 2016; 46(Suppl 1):7-8. DOI: 10.1007/PL00022372. View

Kessler D, Langer R, Pless N, Folkman J . Mast cells and tumor angiogenesis. Int J Cancer. 1976; 18(5):703-9. DOI: 10.1002/ijc.2910180520. View

Coussens L, Raymond W, Bergers G, Behrendtsen O, Werb Z, Caughey G . Inflammatory mast cells up-regulate angiogenesis during squamous epithelial carcinogenesis. Genes Dev. 1999; 13(11):1382-97. PMC: 316772. DOI: 10.1101/gad.13.11.1382. View

Caughey G . Mast cell tryptases and chymases in inflammation and host defense. Immunol Rev. 2007; 217:141-54. PMC: 2275918. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-065X.2007.00509.x. View

Ribatti D, Guidolin D, Marzullo A, Nico B, Annese T, Benagiano V . Mast cells and angiogenesis in gastric carcinoma. Int J Exp Pathol. 2010; 91(4):350-6. PMC: 2962893. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2613.2010.00714.x. View

Walsh L . Mast cells and oral inflammation. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. 2003; 14(3):188-98. DOI: 10.1177/154411130301400304. View

Grootens J, Ungerstedt J, Nilsson G, Dahlin J . Deciphering the differentiation trajectory from hematopoietic stem cells to mast cells. Blood Adv. 2018; 2(17):2273-2281. PMC: 6134220. DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2018019539. View

10.

Sawai N, Koike K, Mwamtemi H, Kinoshita T, Kurokawa Y, Sakashita K . Thrombopoietin augments stem cell factor-dependent growth of human mast cells from bone marrow multipotential hematopoietic progenitors. Blood. 1999; 93(11):3703-12. View

11.

Ozdemir O . Immunosurveillance function of human mast cell?. World J Gastroenterol. 2006; 11(44):7054-6. PMC: 4717056. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i44.7054. View

12.

Yodavudh S, Tangjitgamol S, Puangsa-Art S . Prognostic significance of microvessel density and mast cell density for the survival of Thai patients with primary colorectal cancer. J Med Assoc Thai. 2008; 91(5):723-32. View

13.

Khatami M . Cyclooxygenase inhibitor ketorolac or mast cell stabilizers: immunologic challenges in cancer therapy. Clin Cancer Res. 2005; 11(3):1349-51. View

14.

Tomita M, Matsuzaki Y, Onitsuka T . Effect of mast cells on tumor angiogenesis in lung cancer. Ann Thorac Surg. 2000; 69(6):1686-90. DOI: 10.1016/s0003-4975(00)01160-7. View

15.

Takanami I, Takeuchi K, Naruke M . Mast cell density is associated with angiogenesis and poor prognosis in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Cancer. 2000; 88(12):2686-92. View

16.

Elpek G, Gelen T, Aksoy N, Erdogan A, Dertsiz L, Demircan A . The prognostic relevance of angiogenesis and mast cells in squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus. J Clin Pathol. 2001; 54(12):940-4. PMC: 1731336. DOI: 10.1136/jcp.54.12.940. View

17.

Pejler G, Knight S, Henningsson F, Wernersson S . Novel insights into the biological function of mast cell carboxypeptidase A. Trends Immunol. 2009; 30(8):401-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2009.04.008. View

18.

Kandhare A, Aswar U, Mohan V, Thakurdesai P . Ameliorative effects of type-A procyanidins polyphenols from cinnamon bark in compound 48/80-induced mast cell degranulation. Anat Cell Biol. 2018; 50(4):275-283. PMC: 5768564. DOI: 10.5115/acb.2017.50.4.275. View

19.

Yamasaki S, Ishikawa E, Kohno M, Saito T . The quantity and duration of FcRgamma signals determine mast cell degranulation and survival. Blood. 2004; 103(8):3093-101. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2003-08-2944. View

20.

Wernersson S, Pejler G . Mast cell secretory granules: armed for battle. Nat Rev Immunol. 2014; 14(7):478-94. DOI: 10.1038/nri3690. View