Dual roles of neutrophils in metastatic colonization are governed by the host NK cell status

Abstract

The role of neutrophils in the regulation of tumour growth and metastasis remains controversial. Here, the authors demonstrate that neutrophils, by exerting inhibitory effects on cytotoxic NK cells, show a net pro-metastatic effect in immune-competent mice, while they are tumoricidal and anti-metastatic in NK cell-deficient hosts.