Skip to content
naulon

No retraction, correction or concern found when last checked on Oct 17, 2026.

Contribution to Tumor Angiogenesis From Innate Immune Cells Within the Tumor Microenvironment: Implications for Immunotherapy

Adriana Albini, Antonino Bruno, Douglas M. Noonan and 1 more

Frontiers in Immunology · 2018 · Review

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.00527

Abstract

The critical role of angiogenesis in promoting tumor growth and metastasis is strongly established. However, tumors show considerable variation in angiogenic characteristics and in their sensitivity to antiangiogenic therapy. Tumor angiogenesis involves not only cancer cells but also various tumor-associated leukocytes (TALs) and stromal cells. TALs produce chemokines, cytokines, proteases, structural proteins, and microvescicles. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inflammatory chemokines are not only major proangiogenic factors but are also immune modulators, which increase angiogenesis and lead to immune suppression. In our review, we discuss the regulation of angiogenesis by innate immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, specific features, and roles of major players: macrophages, neutrophils, myeloid-derived suppressor and dendritic cells, mast cells, γδT cells, innate lymphoid cells, and natural killer cells. Anti-VEGF or anti-inflammatory drugs could balance an immunosuppressive microenvironment to an immune permissive one. Anti-VEGF as well as anti-inflammatory drugs could therefore represent partners for combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors, enhancing the effects of immune therapy.

Full text

From PubMed Central, U.S. National Library of Medicine, as current on Oct 17, 2026. Paragraph numbers are ours, so an answer can point at one.

Introduction

The “gradient” of phenotype, genetic, and epigenetic features of transformed cells inside the tumor gives rise to the most known and studied tumor heterogeneity, the “intrinsic” one. However, increasing attention is devoted to “extrinsic” heterogeneity, i.e., all those cellular and molecular “players” that include the non-cancerous hosting environment. Cancers develop in complex tissue environments, both in the primary and in the target organs of metastasis. A “hostile” setting is elicited, such as low oxygen, acidity, and altered metabolic conditions. Cancer cells adapt more rapidly than healthy ones to the adverse conditions that paradoxically sustain growth, invasion, and metastasis. In such an “infernal” environment, interactions between tumor cells and the associated stroma represent a dangerous relationship that reciprocally influences disease initiation, progression and, in the end, determines patient prognosis.

The confirmed theory that the presence of inflammatory cells plays a crucial role within the tumor microenvironment (TME) is a very old one. “Evading immune destruction” and “tumor-promoting inflammation” are recognized host-dependent tumor hallmarks as defined by Hanahan and Weinberg. Among the tumor-friendly phenomena generated through the activity of the inflammatory cells in the microenvironment, there is the orchestration of angiogenesis, a biological phenomenon necessary to bring oxygen, nutrition to the tumors, and last but not least, to transport the cancer cell to metastatic sites. Innate immune cells, as a consequence of their plasticity, have been reported to acquire an altered phenotype that can be proangiogenic. For many immune cells, both from innate and adaptive immunity, the release of proangiogenic cytokines is accompanied by a switch to a tolerogenic/immunosuppressive behavior. In this review, we choose to describe the role in angiogenesis of selected major classes of inflammatory cells: macrophages, neutrophils, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), dendritic cells (DCs), mast cells (MCs), gammadelta (γδ)T type 17 cells (γδT17), innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), and natural killer (NK) cells (Figure 1). We also sustain the rationale behind using antiangiogenic drugs before the onset of immunotherapy and we propose as an innovative, low-cost strategy the use of “repurposed” anti-inflammatory/chemopreventive drugs to assist immunotherapies.

Macrophages

Macrophages constitute professional phagocytes of the innate immune cell compartment with different specialized functions, depending on the type of danger signals and endogenous molecules to which they are exposed. They act as sentinels in all tissues of the body against invading pathogens, are able to trigger an inflammatory response, and collaborate with other immune cells to activate adaptive T lymphocyte responses through antigen processing and presentation. These activities are related to a classical activation state, which is type 1 T helper (TH1) cell associated and INFγ and/or LPS-dependent, and is referred to as M1. This condition is favorable to immune response. Macrophages can be alternatively activated by IL-4 and/or IL-13 signals from TH2 cells, eosinophils, and/or basophils in the surrounding microenvironment. This polarization is involved in parasite control and wound healing and is termed M2. M2 macrophages are associated with chemical and physical tissue damage in which they mediate tissue homeostasis and repair via remodeling and angiogenesis, in a spectrum of differentiation states. In vivo, the plasticity and diversity of macrophages are responsible of a spectrum of different activation states strictly depending on an array of concordant but also discordant stimuli, such as hypoxia, chemokines, colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1), TGFβ, adenosine, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), that do not fit with the M1/M2 classification. For these reasons, M1-like is the preferred term used in this review and indicate a polarization state of macrophages that are able to orchestrate cytotoxic antipathogen and antitumor responses, whereas M2-like are cells that have the common functional feature of favoring tumor cell fitness, new blood vessel formation, as well as suppressive activities toward adaptive immune cells. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which share many features with M2-like macrophages (Figure 2), represent the major cell population of tumor-infiltrating leukocytes. TAMs also show consistent differences between diverse types of cancers. Elevated TAM infiltration has been correlated with poor clinical outcome in many types of cancers, such as ovarian, breast, prostate, cervical, and thyroid cancers, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cutaneous melanoma, lung, and hepatocellular carcinomas. Conversely, other reports on colorectal, prostatic, and lung cancers have detected a positive role of infiltrating macrophages favoring increased patient survival. During cancer development, macrophages are recruited in the tumor stroma by several inflammatory mediators, such as chemokines: CCL2 (also known as MCP-1), CCL5, CXCL12 (also known as SDF-1), cytokines: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CSF1, and activated complement elements. Blood monocytes, blood monocytic MDSCs, cells, or tissue-resident macrophages are subverted in their phenotype and functions to differentiate into TAMs. However, TAMs are not fixed in an irreversible phenotype, they maintain their plasticity and eventually could be targeted by specific therapeutic approaches to re-educate them to M1-like antitumor functions. Accumulating evidence have shown that TAMs can act as key cellular mediators, interconnecting chronic inflammation with cancer development and progression.

Several lines of research have pointed out the role of TAMs in the regulation of tumor cell invasion, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and metastasis. In primary tumors (Figure 2), they can promote angiogenesis (the “angiogenic switch”) triggering the activation and the recruitment of endothelial cells (ECs), essentially by producing multiple proangiogenic factors, including VEGFA, epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), chemokines CXCL8 (also known as IL-8), CXCL12, TNFα, semaphorin 4D, adrenomedullin, and thymidine phosphorylase. These factors produced by TAMs are responsible for the proliferation of ECs and the induction of sprouting, tube formation, and maturation of new vessels. Macrophages have been shown to play a critical role in tumor lymphangiogenesis by producing VEGFC and VEGFD. TAM activities can also have an impact on degradation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), through the production of different classes of enzymes and proteases, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs in particular MMP2 and MMP9), plasmin, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), and cathepsins, thereby influencing tumor invasion and the metastatic process.

Tumor-associated macrophages are also associated with resistance to different chemotherapeutic agents, involving the activation of distinct molecular pathways. In breast cancers, TAMs are able to inhibit apoptosis of cancer cells upon paclitaxel treatment via induction of IL-10/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3/Bcl-2 signaling. In patients with non-small cell lung cancer, TAMs or M2-like TAMs dampen the responsiveness to targeted therapy with EGF receptor–tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

A highly proangiogenic M2-like TAM subset is represented by angiopoietin responsive Tie2+ perivascular macrophages, which are able to induce chemotherapeutic drug resistance, favoring decreasing cancer cell responsiveness to radiotherapy. Specific inhibition of the angiopoietin/Tie2 axis can act in synergy with antiangiogenic treatments. Apart from their proangiogenic features, TAMs also play a crucial role in promoting an immunosuppressive milieu helping different tumors to escape immunosurveillance. Their contribution to tumor progression act also through crosstalk with other leukocytes and inflammatory and stromal cells within the TME. In the establishment of the immunosuppressive milieu, TAMs can directly recruit T regulatory (Treg) cells, by producing CCL20 and CCL22 chemokines and can activate them by secreting IL-10 and TGFβ. TAMs also represent an important factor for the establishment of the premetastatic niche.

Different TAM-targeted therapeutic strategies have been developed with the aim to inhibit macrophage recruitment, to induce cell death, and to re-educate killer functions. These innovative therapeutic approaches could behave as a complement strategy in combination with antiangiogenic, cytoreductive, and/or immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments, and preclinical and clinical trial results are promising. CCL2-specific inhibition by antibodies has proven efficacious in mouse models of prostate, breast, lung, and melanoma, and this approach was synergistic with chemotherapy. Different antibodies targeting CCL2 have entered phase I and II clinical trials. A CCR5 antagonist has been approved for the treatment of patients with liver metastases from advanced colorectal cancers and experimental data indicate that CCL5/CCR5 axis targeting could be suitable for clinical responses. Diverse compounds and antibody inhibitors that have been developed to inhibit the CSF1–CSF1R axis, could target TAM, and were evaluated in mouse models and in patients with different types of cancer. In diffuse-type tenosynovial giant-cell tumor showing overexpression of CSF1R, after treatment with CSF1R-blocking agents, patients experienced relevant clinical regressions. In preclinical glioblastoma multiforme model, CSF1R blockade did not affect the TAM numbers but the M2-like TAM polarization markers were lowered, thus was associated with improvement of survival. Bisphosphonates, that are used to treat osteoporosis and to prevent bone metastases-related complications, can also be used to target macrophages inside the tumor. Moreover, bisphosphonates in combination with chemotherapy or hormonal therapy have been shown clinical synergistic effects, in different types of cancer patients, in particular for patients with breast cancer. In a murine model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the anti-CD40- and gemcitabine-treated mice induced re-education of M2-like TAM toward an M1-like macrophage and elicit effective antitumor responses. This lead to a phase I clinical trial in PDAC patients, the combination was well tolerated and provided some antitumor efficacy. A recently identified potent compound that targets TAMs is trabectedin, a synthetic form of a molecule isolated from the marine tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata, which has found application in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas and ovarian cancer patients. Trabectedin induces selective TRAIL-dependent apoptosis of monocytes, macrophages, and the monocytic component of MDSCs in blood, spleen, and tumors with the reduction of TAM numbers and angiogenesis.

Neutrophils

Neutrophils are the most abundant innate immune cells in the peripheral blood, they act as a first line of defense against invading pathogens and are crucial effectors in the acute phase of inflammation. Neutrophils are recruited in the damaged area by chemokines, in particular CXCL8, and the cognate receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2. These leukocytes exert important functions such as phagocytosis, production and release of antimicrobial ROS, peptides, enzymes, and neutrophil extracellular traps (NET). Neutrophils can release a substantial quantity of different reactive soluble factors, including cytokines and chemokines, and are able to recruit and activate other immune cells, playing an important role in the regulation of chronic inflammation, tumor angiogenesis, and progression. Inflammatory CD66b+ neutrophils can be found in high numbers in either blood or TME of different cancers and correlated with poor clinical outcome.

Neutrophils produce either proangiogenic or antiangiogenic factors, and in some cases, such as in the early phases of lung cancers, they can exert important T cell stimulatory, antitumor functions. Although they are characterized by a terminally differentiated phenotype and a short half-life, these cells are endowed with a certain kind of plasticity and in murine tumor models they are able to differentiate in two distinct subsets: neutrophils type 1 (N1) with antimicrobial functions, and tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs or N2) endowed with protumor and proangiogenic features (Figure 2) in response to TGFβ. In response to IFNβ, TAN/N2 neutrophils can be converted to N1 type in both mouse lung cancers and human melanomas.

Accumulating evidence has indicated TANs as key players involved in tumor angiogenesis and metastatic process in both mice and humans (Figure 2). The complex role of TANs in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis resides mainly in the capacity of these cells to secrete an array of diverse immunosuppressive or proangiogeneic molecules such as IL-1β, VEGF, FGF2, TGFα, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and angiopoietin 1 (ANG1) different chemokines such as CXCL1, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, CCL3, and CCL4 and enzymes involved in ECM remodeling (MMP9). Production and expansion of neutrophils is dependent on CSF3 (G-CSF) and its receptor CSF3R. A crucial signaling pathway for cancer inflammation is STAT3, which is downstream of activated CSF3R. In response to CSF3, neutrophils upregulate the expression of BV8 (also known as prokineticin-2) that induce myeloid cell mobilization and myeloid-dependent tumor angiogenesis. This production of BV8 depends on the activation of STAT3. The tumor angiogenesis stimulation in mice by TANs and other myeloid cells is regulated by STAT3 signaling and involves VEGFA, FGF2, and MMP9. MMP9-secreting neutrophils can directly contribute in the acceleration of tumorigenesis acting on skin premalignant epithelial cells in a mouse model. During the early stages of carcinogenesis, TANs can mediate the initial angiogenic switch in RIP1–Tag2 transgenic mice model of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. The MMP9-positive neutrophils were mainly found inside angiogenic islet dysplasia as well as in tumors. The neutrophil depletion by GR1 or Ly6G antibodies in both transgenic and tumor transplanted mice resulted in lower levels of VEGF/VEGF receptor (VEGFR) signaling and a delay of the angiogenic switch. TANs lack expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP1), rendering neutrophil-derived MMP9 more potent as angiogenesis driver in the TME than cells which produce MMP9/TIMP1 complexes. Neutrophils with antiangiogenic features have been reported to be able to release the endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor thrombospondin-1 in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α-deficient mice, thus preventing angiogenesis and tumor growth. These reports suggest that PPARα is a central transcriptional suppressor of inflammation and tumor development and could be a valuable target. Group V secreted phospholipase A2 enzymes are released by human neutrophils and enhance the proangiogenic molecules VEGFA, ANG1, and CXCL8 in an autocrine mechanism, but also stimulate production of the antiangiogenic isoform of VEGFA, VEGFA165b. The functional outcome probably depends on the balance between proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors and is still matter of investigation.

The ability of neutrophils to release several proangiogenic factors, MMPs, and other proteases and to trap cancer cells via NET secretion could promote cancer metastasis. TANs are required for the development of the premetastatic niche and metastases in murine models.

Recently, new data have brought clarity on the role of TANs and TAMs in the resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. Tumors activate PI3K signaling in all CD11b+ cells (both neutrophils and monocytes). Inhibition of one of these cell types induces a compensatory phenomenon by the other cell types, which overcomes the angiogenic blockade. Hindering PI3K in all CD11b+ myeloid cells generate a long-lasting angiostatic effect.

Immature Myeloid Cells (MDSC and DC)

Immature myeloid cells are innate immunity cells that infiltrate the TME, having a critical role in the proangiogenic activities and in tumor immune evasion (Figure 1). The immature myeloid cells include MDSCs and DCs, also indicated as regulatory (reg)DCs. The immature phenotype is due to constitutive activation of STAT3 that perturbs the differentiation process of these cells. MDSCs comprise in mice and humans two distinct immature myeloid cell types: the polymorphonuclear MDSC (PMN-MDSC) characterized by neutrophil features, and the monocytic MDSC (M-MDSC) having markers of monocytes. Recently, several articles have described exhaustively both MDSC and DC phenotypic characteristics and they will not be discussed here. Several tumor-derived factors, among which CSF3, IL-1β, and IL-6, have been implicated in recruitment, activation, and expansion of MDSCs. These molecules contribute to the STAT3 activation of immature MDSCs, rendering them potent proangiogenic and immunosuppressive cells.

Monocytic MDSCs have been intensively studied and recognized as immunosuppressive cells as well as proangiogenic effectors in cancer. Murine data suggested that MDSCs are also able to differentiate into ECs. Recent data have suggested that MDSCs in human peripheral lymphoid organs are mainly represented by PMN-MDSCs, with immunoregulatory role and are involved in the tumor-specific T cell tolerance. In the TME, there is accumulation of the M-MDSC counterpart, which is more suppressive and can rapidly differentiate to TAMs. These events might imply that targeting only one myeloid cell subset (macrophages vs. granulocytes or vice versa) may not be sufficient for obtaining a long-lasting immunotherapeutic effect. An investigation performed in two transplantable and two transgenic tumor murine models has shown that the tumor-induced hypoxia triggers the upregulation of CD45 tyrosine phosphatase activity in TME residing MDSCs, resulting in downregulation of STAT3 and differentiation of MDSCs into TAMs. There is no hypoxia in the spleens, thus CD45 downregulation of STAT3 does not occur in this organ. Use of STAT3 inhibitors in tumor-bearing mice resulted in depletion of MDSCs in the spleen but not in tumors.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells and TAMs are regulated by metabolic constraints within the TME, and this represents a crucial factor of the signaling network regulating the expression of specific transcriptional programs with distinct protumor functions. Several amino acids in the TME are converted to immunomodulatory molecules such as nitric oxide, polyamines, and kinurenines. Amino acids consumption by myeloid cells decrease the availability of essential nutrients for T cells. The energetic metabolism of tumor-infiltrating MDCSs showed peculiar features in both mouse and human samples, such as a preferential augmented fatty acid uptake and their oxidation rather than glycolysis. Targeting fatty acid oxidation inhibited tumor growth and combination with low dose chemotherapy blocked the MDSC immunosuppression. Myeloid cells in the TME produce increased fatty acid synthase in response to CSF1, which causes PPARβ/δ-dependent expression of genes, like VEGF, IL-10, and arginase 1 (Arg1), involved in the proangiogenic and immunosuppressive responses. A promising therapeutic approach is based on the reprogramming and the re-education of the metabolism of MDSCs in the TME, with appropriate drugs in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are also characterized by the ability to express high amounts of NADPH oxidase, which is responsible for the production of ROS in the form of superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxynitrite. MDSCs present also an increased expression of Arg1 and of inducible forms of nitric oxide synthase 2 genes, and they release diverse inhibitory cytokines, contributing to the immunosuppressive effects in the TME.

Myeloid DCs, also known as conventional (c)DCs, consists of multiple cell subsets with potent antigen-presenting cell capacity, therefore playing a fundamental role in the activation of T-cell adaptive responses against pathogens and tumor cells. However, tumor-associated cDCs or regulatory DC (regDCs) in the TME display altered functions with impaired cross-presentation capacity, express low levels of co-stimulatory molecules, and have high-proangiogenic abilities. These changes depend on diverse conditions that are established during tumor progression, for example, hypoxia, production of PGE2, IL-10, adenosine, and increased levels of lactate.

One of the major mechanisms contributing to DC dysfunction in tumor-bearing animals and in patients with different cancers is the abnormal accumulation of lipids. Growing evidence shows that cDCs can drive either immunosurveillance or accelerated tumor progression depending on the environment. In both mouse and human ovarian cancers, CCR6+ cDCs are recruited massively in the TME through the tumor-derived β-defensins and are induced to become proangiogenic cells, favoring tumor vascularization, and growth in response of tumor VEGF.

Depleting DC numbers in the tumor-bearing host at early stages of the disease correlates with faster tumor development in a murine model of ovarian cancer. DC inhibition at advanced stages induces on the contrary significant delays in the malignant progression.

During tumor progression, the hypoxia-induced regDCs remain in an immature state and acquire tolerogenic immunosuppressive properties and proangiogenic activities, for instance, by secretion of galectin-1. Galectin 1 is able to bind VEGFR2 and neuropilin-1, mirroring the effect of VEGF on ECs, thereby promoting angiogenesis. Moreover, regDCs are involved in the expansion and activation of Treg cells through TGFβ release, reinforcing the induction of the immunosuppressive functions of the TME. Induction of adenosine receptor A2b is triggered by the hypoxia-induced factor (HIF)-regulated elements during tumor hypoxia and is involved in skewing DCs to TH2 triggering phenotype, sustaining M2-like macrophage induction, and reinforcing tumor angiogenesis. Although regDCs and MDSCs have cell-type specific functional properties, their capability of regulating tumor angiogenesis in the TME appears similar to the one of M2-like TAMs and N2 neutrophils, leading to production of several soluble factors such as VEGF, FGF2, BV8, and MMP9.

Mast Cells

Mast cells (MCs) are bone marrow-derived multifunctional immune cells first identified in human tumors by Paul Ehrlich in the 1870s. MCs and their mediators exert a host protective immune response against noxious agents, viral and microbial pathogens, but are also associated with a detrimental role in allergic diseases. Increased number of MCs have been observed in tumor and peritumor tissues of cancer patients; their role in cancer insurgence and progression is tumor dependent. Contrasting roles of MCs in supporting or inhibiting tumor progression have been reported. In solid neoplasms including thyroid, gastric, pancreatic, bladder cancers, prostate adenocarcinomas, and hematological malignancies, MCs have been associated with protumorigenic activity. In breast cancer and in murine model of prostatic neuroendocrine tumors, MCs have antitumor activities. These data clearly suggest that the role of MCs in cancer is tumor-type dependent and is tuned by the local microenvironment (Figures 1 and 2). Antitumor activities by MCs are related to their ability to induce target cell cytotoxicity by releasing TNFα or by induction of ROS. Protumorigenic activities of MCs include contribution to the induction of an acidic and immunosuppressive TME, through adenosine production in the extracellular milieu. Prometastatic functions of MCs are mediated by the release of TGFβ, which induce tumor cells to undergo epithelial to mesenchymal transition. MC releases proangiogenic factors including FGF2, VEGFA, TNFs, CXCL8, diverse proteases, such MMPs (MMP9 mostly), as well as chymase and tryptase that modify pro-MMPs to their active forms. MC deficient tumor-bearing mice show a reduced angiogenesis and metastatic capacity. In renal cell carcinoma, infiltrating MCs have been found to support angiogenesis by modulating PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/AM signaling. Following activation of c-KitR/SCF, MCs can release tryptase that, acting on PAR2 in tumor cells, induce endothelial and tumor cell proliferation in a paracrine manner, leading to tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Tryptase released by MCs sustain angiogenesis in pancreatic cancers by activating the angiopoietin-1 pathway. Tryptase producing MCs correlate with angiogenesis in locally advanced colorectal cancer patients. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that tryptase-positive MCs in multiple myeloma were associated with higher levels of MMP9, ANG2, and angiogenin and could contribute to vasculogenic mimicry. Tryptase appears the key mediator for protumor activity of MCs, since it is involved in cell growth, tumor-induced angiogenesis, and invasion, thus it appears to be a promising target for MC-related angiogenesis. Tryptase inhibitors originally designed as anti-allergic drugs could exert promising antitumor and antiangiogenic activity and could be proposed as repurposed drugs also in combination with immune therapy.

γδT17 Cells

Gammadelta T cells are lymphoid cells characterized by unique features resembling innate cells in their capacity to recognize conserved non-peptide antigens expressed by stressed cells. They also resemble adaptive cells because of their ability to undergo clonal expansion and to develop antigen-specific memory. These cells are involved in the early phase of immune responses and produce pro-inflammatory factors such as IFNγ and TNFα and IL-17, activating other effector immune cells against virus, bacteria, and tumor cells but also stimulating inflammation and exacerbation of autoimmune diseases. They comprise different functional subsets.

Although there are some conflicting data on the role of γδT cells inside the TME, it is believed that the subset γδT17 cells, specialized in the IL-17 release, can actively participate in the angiogenic process (Figures 1 and 2). It has been shown that γδT17 cells release IL-17, CXCL8, CFS2 (also known as GM-CSF), and TNFα, and are able to support survival of MDSCs. Tumor cells over-expressing IL-17 showed significant tumor growth and new vessel formation. Since IL-17 has no direct effect on the proliferation of ECs, the proangiogenic effect is likely to be exerted through the enhancement of VEGF and/or CXCL8 by tumor cells. On the contrary, mice lacking IL-17 showed limited tumor growth and the vascular density in tumor tissues was decreased. There is evidence that IL-17 responsiveness can be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in colorectal patients, high expression of IL-17 was shown to be associated with high microvessel density and was associated with VEGF production from tumor cells. More recently, it has been shown that IL-17 activates STAT3 in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) cells and that treatment of HUVECs with IL-17 in vitro promoted the formation of vessel-like tubes in a dose-dependent manner. The GIV protein (Gα-interacting vesicle-associated protein, also known as Girdin) modulates the crucial signaling pathways in processes including macrophage chemotaxis, wound healing, and cancer metastasis and can be a target of STAT3 activation in NSCLC cell lines. IL-17-dependent STAT3/GIV signaling pathway is responsible for VEGF release from cancer cells and promotion of tumor angiogenesis, and GIV expression positively correlates with IL-17+ cell presence and increased microvessel densities and predicts poor survival of NSCLC patients.

IL-17 in the TME in the CMS-G4 fibrosarcoma tumor model was largely derived from tumor-infiltrating γδT cells, and anti-cytokine mAb treatment revealed that the γδT cells require the presence of IL-6, IL-23, and TGFβ signaling. In gallbladder cancer (GBC) patients, γδT17 cells are increased in peripheral blood and in the population of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. GBC patients with high γδT17, TH17, and Treg cells showed poor overall survival. A GBC (OCUG-1) cell line that is responsive to IL-17, treated with cell-free supernatant from γδT17 cells, upregulates VEGF production, and this effect is IL-17 dependent. The proangiogenic action of γδT17 cells on GBC was confirmed by protein angiogenesis array performed on cell-free supernatants derived from these cells. The assay showed IL-17-dependent upregulation of several important angiogenesis factors in OCUG-1 cells, such as VEGF, angiogenin, uPA, MMP9, CCL2, CXCL16, CSF2, and coagulation factor III, but also stimulation of production of antiangiogenic factors, including thrombospondin-1, TIMP1, serpine-1, and platelet factor 4. A recent report has shown that IL-17-secreting γδT cells are dependent on CCR6 for homing to inflamed skin. Drugs targeting CCR6 or factors involved in γδT17 cell proangiogenic polarization should be studied for potential use in addition with immunotherapy.

Innate Lymphoid Cells

Innate lymphoid cells represent a recently identified heterogeneous family of mononuclear hematopoietic cells, found mostly in solid tissues. Based on their lymphoid morphology, surface antigens, transcription factor expression, and cytokine productions (TH1, TH2, and TH17-like), ILCs have been classified into three major groups, termed as ILC1, ILC2, and ILC3. ILC1s are characterized by IFNγ release and are Tbet dependent; ILC2 produce type 2-cytokines, such as IL-5 and IL-13, and require GATA3 expression; ILC3s produce IL-17 and/or IL-22 and are dependent on RORγt. ILCs are endowed with potent pleiotropic effects in early responses against infections and are involved in several pathologies including cancer. Aberrant activation, proliferation, and functions of ILCs support severe inflammation and damages in diverse organs, including the gut, lung, liver, and skin. Whether ILCs can be defined as friends or foes in cancer insurgence and progression is still a matter of debate. ILCs are characterized by high-cell plasticity and can be easily interconverted into their different subsets upon TME stimuli [especially ILC1–ILC3 interconversion].

IFNγ+ ILC1s have been associated with both antitumor and protumor effects (Figure 1), the latter induced by triggering of MDSCs and inducing indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity. A protective role exerted by a novel type of ILC1-like cells has been shown in a murine model of mammary carcinogenesis. NK cells, that will be discussed, later have also been included in the ILC1 subclass.

ILC2s can release type 2 cytokines, such as IL-5 and IL-13, and CSF2 in response to IL-25 and IL-33. IL-13/IL-13R interaction in breast cancer and cholangiocarcinoma cells in association with recruitment and induction of TGFβ-producing MDSCs and Treg has been reported to induce tumor cell growth and migration, and tumor immune escape. Release of IL-13 by ILC2s promotes M2-like TAM polarization and amplification.

Among the ILC subgroups, ILC3s are the more investigated for their contribution to carcinogenesis. They comprise several subsets: lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells, first discovered for their function in the formation of lymphoid tissue during organogenesis, NCR (NKp46, NKp44)+ ILC3 and NCR− ILC3. Overall, the pro-tumor activities of ILC3s are mainly linked to the induction of chronic inflammation by secretion of IL-17 and IL-22, in particular in the gut, through their response to IL-23.

ILC3s preserve epithelial integrity and maintain tissue homeostasis by secretion of IL-22. Production of IL-17 by ILC3s can have a role in promoting tumorigenesis, tumor growth, and angiogenesis. Growing evidence from mouse tumor models marks ILC3s as cells involved in the recruitment of MDSCs, Treg cells, and in the promotion of M2-like macrophages in the TME. At the moment, the real contribution in human cancers remains to be fully elucidated. ILC3s have also been shown to play a role in carcinogenesis in models of bacteria-induced colorectal cancer, through the release of IL-22. The involvement of LTi-like ILC3s has been shown in the induction of tumor migration via lymphatics in patients with triple-negative breast cancers. In the 4T1.2 syngeneic mouse breast model, ILC3s are recruited in the primary tumor through CCL21, and then they trigger tumor stromal cells to release CXCL13, which leads to the induction of lymphotoxin and receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand, that in turn promotes lymphangiogenesis and stimulate tumor cell motility. A correlation exists between invasive aggressive behavior in breast cancer patients and gene expressed by ILC3s such as CXCL13, CCL19, CCL21, and CXCR5 and CCR7. ILC3s have been shown to promote the formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), involved in tumor progression and lymph nodal metastasis. The protumor or antitumor roles of TLS are still debated. NKp46+ NKp44+ LTi-like ILC3s are present in the TME near intra-tumor TLS and may interact directly with tumor cells by sensing and recognizing transformed cells through the NKp44 receptor. Tumor-infiltrating NKp46+ NKp44+ LTi-like ILC3s are endowed with ability to release several types of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and their increased numbers correlated with intra-tumor TLS and predict favorable clinical outcome. Accumulation of neuropilin (NRP)1+ LTi-like ILC3s has been found in inflamed tissues of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in smokers, in association with VEGF production. Immunohistochemistry analysis of inflamed tissues revealed that the majority of RORγτ+NRP1+ cells were co-localized with blood vessels and in the alveolar parenchyma, suggesting their contribution to angiogenesis and induction of lung TLS. Apart from IL-22 and IL17, the pro-inflammatory LTi-like NRP1+ ILC3 subset was also found to release CSF2, TNFα, B-cell-activating factor, and CXCL8, possibly contributing to angiogenesis.

Due to the recent discovery of the non-NK ILCs and the incomplete knowledge of the role in tumor and angiogenesis, targeting strategies have not been yet developed.

NK Cells

Natural killer cells are bone marrow-derived large granular effector lymphocytes of the innate immune system that can potentially control tumor growth by their cytotoxic activity, which are now classified as a subset of ILC1. Based on surface density expression of CD56, an isoform of the human neural cell adhesion molecule, and of CD16, the low-affinity Fcγ receptor, two main subpopulations of peripheral blood NK cells have been identified in humans: the CD56dimCD16+ and the CD56brightCD16−/low NK cell subset, representing about 90–95% of peripheral blood NK cells and about 5–10% of peripheral blood NK cells, respectively. CD56dimCD16+ NKs can release high quantity of perforin and granzymes and are cytotoxic when encountering cells with high-activating ligands and low inhibitory (mostly class I MHC) ligands or when mediating antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity. Although weak long-term cytokine producers, these cells have the ability to quickly (2–4 h) secrete high amounts of cytokines. CD56brightCD16−/low NKs, are poorly cytotoxic, but can release several cytokines, including IFNγ, TNFα, and GM-CSF. However, there is an increasing awareness of the complexity of NK cell subsets and the role of the TME. Mature NK cells express the PD-1 receptor, and engagement with the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) ligand results in impaired antitumor NK cell activity. Disruption of this PD-1/PD-L1 by blocking antibodies partially restores their antitumor activity. Another recently identified NK checkpoint is the IL-1R8 (also known as SIGIRR, or TIR8), which is expressed on human and murine NK cells. Mice lacking IL-1R8 are protected against chemically-induced tumors and metastatic dissemination. Mice lacking the cytokine-induced SH2-containing protein CIS also had protection toward chemically induced tumors and metastatic disease.

A third NK cell subset has been identified in the decidua during pregnancy, termed decidual or uterine NK cells (dNK). dNK cells acquire the CD56superbrightCD16−KIR+ phenotype, are poorly cytotoxic, and secrete proangiogenic cytokines, including VEGF, placental growth factor (PlGF), CXCL8, and IL-10 and are critical for decidual vascularization and spiral artery formation. Early on in pregnancy, dNK increase up to 70% of the local lymphocytes and 30–40% of all decidual cells. While it has been exhaustively demonstrated that NK cells have important proangiogenic roles in the uterine vasculature, their contribution to tumor angiogenesis still represent a poorly explored topic (Figure 1). The TME has been extensively reported to be crucial in shaping NK cell functions. We were the first to report a proangiogenic NK cell polarization in peripheral blood (TANKs) and tumor-infiltrating NK cells (TINKs) in NSCLC patients. We showed that the CD56brightCD16− NK cells, the predominant subset infiltrating NSCLC tissues and a minor subset in adjacent lung and peripheral blood, are associated with VEGF, PlGF, and IL-8 production (Figure 2). Functional assays indicated that supernatants derived from NSCLC CD56brightCD16− NK cells induce EC chemotaxis and formation of capillary-like structures in vitro, and that these effects were even stronger in TANKs isolated from subset of squamous carcinoma patients than in adenocarcinoma.

TGFβ is associated with dNK polarization and is present in the TME. A combination of TGFβ, hypoxia, and a demethylating agent induces a dNK-like phenotype in healthy donor NK cells. A recent report indicated that TGFβ converted NK cells into other ILC1 subpopulations that were unable to control local tumor growth and metastasis. We observed that TGFβ1 upregulates VEGF and PlGF in healthy donor NK cells.

Tumor-infiltrating NK cells operate within a hypoxic TME. Hypoxia has been extensively reported to modulate immune cell response as well as driving angiogenesis. Murine NK cells genetically depleted of HIF1α continued to have impaired cell cytotoxicity, yet tumors grew more slowly in these mice. Tumors in these mice had numerous immature vessels with hemorrhages that resulted in severe hypoxia, which favored metastasis. Genetic inactivation of STAT5, which is necessary for NK cell-mediated cancer immunosurveillance, increases VEGFA in NK cells and stimulates angiogenesis in mouse lymphoma models and on healthy donor-derived NK cells. The aminobiphosphonate zoledronic acid, largely employed as an immunomodulatory agent and able to decrease VEGF levels, has been surprisingly found to synergize with IL-2 in inducing proangiogenic features in TINKs, acting on VEGF/VEGFR1 axis. Thus, therapeutic intervention could act as a double edge sword in NK cell response to tumors.

Pharmacological and Immunotherapeutic Combination Targeting the TME

Extensive studies on TME led to a shift from a tumor-centered view of cancer onset to the role of a more complex tumor ecosystem in which cellular and molecular components are as influential as cancer cells themselves for cancer development and metastatic behavior. This knowledge led to the rapid development of therapeutic approaches aimed at restoring altered/aberrant host immune cell response, by accelerating/pushing efficient tumor eradication, stimulating immune cells of the host. The use of immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) induces reactivation of key immune cell players and has been demonstrated to have great clinical benefits in several tumors. Available ICBs target cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor, and its ligand PD-L1. Known ICBs are: Ipilimumab, a mAb-blocking CTLA4, approved in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Pembrolizumab, a mAb-blocking PD-1, initially licensed for use in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma experiencing disease progression on ipilimumab. Pembrolizumab has been recently made available for other types of cancer (metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Head and Neck Cancer, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Urothelial Carcinoma and Gastric Cancer). Nivolumab is another mAb directed to PD-1 approved for use in individuals with unresectable or metastatic melanoma non-responding to other treatments, as well as in patients with metastatic NSCLC, or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Atezolizumab is a PD-L1-blocking antibody for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Despite the strong clinical success of cancer immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors and other immune modulating agents, most patients still do not experience a durable response and many do not respond at all. To overcome this issue, several strategies combining immune to targeted therapy have been developed.

The gut microbiome, which has a significant influence on the local and systemic immune system, can influence the outcome of ICB therapy in preclinical mouse models and humans. A recent study on the gut and oral microbiome of a cohort of melanoma patients undergoing an anti-PD-1 therapy revealed crucial differences in the diversity and composition of the patients’ gut microbiome of responders vs. non-responders. Analysis of patient fecal microbiome in responding melanoma patients indicated significantly higher relative abundance of bacteria of the Ruminococcaceae family that also correlated with presence of CD8+ T cells in the TME. Fecal microbiota transplantation in germ-free recipients showed that mice which had been transplanted with stool from responders to anti-PD-1 therapy had significantly reduced tumor size and higher density of CD8+ T cells in comparison to mice receiving stool from non-responders to PD-1 blockade. Another recent study on different epithelial tumors in mice and patients indicated correlations between clinical responses to ICBs and the relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila. Hence, the gut microbiome can strongly influence the outcome of cancer patients receiving PD-1 blockade therapy. However, the mechanisms related to these immunomodulatory effects of A. muciniphila remain elusive. It is conceivable that an integral intestinal barrier is associated with a minor systemic inflammation, and specific bacterial families such as Ruminococcaceae and/or A. muciniphila may induce beneficial bacterial metabolites that prevent leaky colon and systemic immunosuppression, paving the way to the possibility to manipulate the gut ecosystem to implement ICB therapy.

All recent preclinical and clinical data suggest that the localization, quality, and quantity of non-cancerous cells, including lymphoid and myeloid cells, within the TME play a major role in shaping response to immune checkpoint blockade (Figures 3 and 4). Other TME cells, such as fibroblast and ECs, could contribute to shaping the immune contest. An emerging role is demonstrated for the angiogenic factor VEGF.

Vascular endothelial growth factor blocks T cell infiltration into the tumor by inhibition of adhesion molecules on ECs. VEGF has also been reported to inhibit antigen presentation by DCs, to enhance the Treg expansion, and to mediate PD-1 upregulation on tumor-infiltrated T cells. Antiangiogenic treatments such as anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab and the diverse multi-tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors targeting the VEGFR family have been largely employed in the clinic, combined with chemotherapy, in particular in colorectal and renal cancer. They have shown significant but moderate benefits in patients’ overall survival. Excessive pruning of vessels following anti-VEGF treatment has been reported to associate with increased hypoxia that, through upregulation of CXCL12/CXCR4 axis and HIF1α, supports M2-like TAM, MDSC, and Treg recruitment, thus supporting tumor progression. Tumors show considerable variation in their responses to antiangiogenic therapy, however, given the immunosuppressive action of VEGF, VEGF inhibitors could combine with the ICBs to enhance therapeutic effects.

Therefore, combination with antiangiogenic agents, and/or anti-inflammatory drugs has a strong rationale but it is still in its infancy. Preclinical and clinical studies in renal cancer showed that the combination of anti-CTLA-4 with sunitinib resulted in decreased Treg and increased CD8+ T cell infiltration (Figure 4). Conversely, increased PD-L1 expression has been observed following treatments with sorafenib, sunitinib, or bevacizumab in a HIF1α-dependent and -independent manner. Growing evidence supports the notion that the targeting of VEGF signaling could result in the induction of tumor vasculature normalization, enhancement of immune cells extravasation, and synergy with immunotherapy. The combination of bevacizumab and ipilimumab has been reported to be associated with clinical benefits in patients with melanoma, and has been found to target Galectin-1. Blocking of VEGFA and angiopoietin-2 using a bispecific antibody in murine models resulted in activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which upregulated PD-L1, and inhibition of PD-1 axis further improved the efficacy of this therapy. Another rationale for the combination of ICBs and antiangiogenic agents is that antiangiogenic agents “normalize” the tumor vasculature, inducing intra-tumor high endothelial venules, thus favoring enhanced T-cell infiltration, antitumor CTL activity, and tumor cell destruction. ICBs in combination with antiangiogenic agents may act as a promising strategy also to dampen the proangiogenic features of immune-infiltrating cells, such as TAMs, MDSCs, and NK cells, acting as re-polarizing agents.

Chronic inflammation, another relevant hallmark of cancer, directly stimulates angiogenesis to support tumor progression and immune suppression. The immunosuppressive inflammatory TME is a key obstacle to cancer immunotherapy (Figures 3 and 4). Thus, targeting chronic inflammation could be one strategy to combat the immunosuppressive TME and enhance the activities of ICBs. One example is targeting the PI3Kγ, which has a strong effect on myeloid cells, preventing immune suppression and enhancing the effects of ICBs in vivo (Figures 3 and 4). Another example of therapy that could synergize with ICBs is targeting the CXCR2 axis, which recruits neutrophils into the premetastatic niche.

The combination of anti-inflammatory agents with ICBs can be exploited to support immunotherapy. Regular use of aspirin, the most commonly employed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has been widely reported to reduce incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer and many other adenocarcinomas. A recent U.S. population-based study reported a stronger survival association of post-diagnosis aspirin use in CRC patients with lower-level PD-L1 expression when compared with those with higher-level of PD-L1 expression. Experimental data supported a synergistic effect between aspirin and anti-PD1 antibody in mutant Braf(V600E) melanoma cells. The synergistic effects resulted also in increased T cell-mediated immune responses and decreased PGE2 production. In experimental models, we showed that aspirin or the beta-blocker agent atenolol can augment the activity of metformin, a biguanide largely employed in type 2 diabetes management and that have been associated to reduced risk of developing diverse cancers, including breast cancers (Figure 4), targeting both neoplastic cells and the TME. Metformin and phenformin affect the angiogenesis pathway and modulate the immune response and the microbiome. Phenformin enhances PD-1 immunotherapy. CDDO-Im (a synthetic triterpenoid: 1[2-Cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oyl]imidazole) has an extensive documentation as an immunomodulation agent, and xanthohumol (XN) (a prenylated chalcone flavonoid) is an antileukemia agent and is a polarizing agent in murine models of breast cancer. Phytocompounds and their synthetic derivatives are able to polarize macrophages inducing anti-tumorigenic phenotype/functions. For example, we show that NSCLC patient TANKs treated with metformin, CDDO-Im, and XN decreases VEGF production (Figure 5) and increases perforin content. Thus, we would like to indicate the use of non-toxic or low-toxic re-polarization agents endowed with anti-inflammatory chemopreventive properties to be combined with ICBs.

Conclusion

The immune checkpoint inhibitors have posed a distinct milestone in cancer therapy. However, several patients do not respond to the ICBs, or have a relapse, with eventual long-term toxicity (i.e., autoimmune diseases). The polarized TME is crucial in the outcome of the patient response to an ICB, thus treating an inflamed or vascularized TME, could theoretically enhance the efficacy of these drugs. We suggest to combine ICBs with drugs that inhibit VEGF or to employ drugs that eliminate the protumor inflammatory cells (for example, trabectedin to eliminate TAMs) or to treat with anti-inflammatory agents that will “re-polarize” the immune cells, for example, the repurposed drugs (metformin) and phytochemicals and their synthetic derivatives (CDDO-Im and XN) or both. Since phytochemicals and their synthetic derivatives often protect the cardiovascular system from chemotherapy induced damage, we propose, as a first-line therapy for difficult and metastatic tumors, to pretreat with phytochemicals or synthetic derivatives, then continue treatment and add sequentially a VEGF blocker, ICBs, and chemotherapy (to trigger the immunogenic cell death). This will set the stage for the ICBs to become highly effective in additional patients.

Author Contributions

All authors listed have made a substantial, direct, and intellectual contribution to the work and approved it for publication.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

References 264

  1. 1.

    Joyce JA Pollard JW Microenvironmental regulation of metastasis. Nat Rev Cancer (2009 ) 9(4):239–52.

    Not in our library10.1038/nrc2618

  2. 2.

    Virchow RLK Die CELLULARPATHOLOGIE in ihrer Begründung auf physiologische und pathologische Gewebelehre. [Cellular Pathology As Based Upon Physiological and Pathological Histology]. Berlin: August Hirschwald (1858 ). Published in English in 1863 by J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia.

    Not in our library

  3. 3.

    Hanahan D Weinberg RA Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation. Cell (2011 ) 144(5):646–74.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.cell.2011.02.013

  4. 4.

    Bruno A Pagani A Magnani E Rossi T Noonan DM Cantelmo AR Inflammatory angiogenesis and the tumor microenvironment as targets for cancer therapy and prevention. Cancer Treat Res (2014 ) 159:401–26.

    Not in our library10.1007/978-3-642-38007-5_23

  5. 5.

    Bruno A Pagani A Pulze L Albini A Dallaglio K Noonan DM Orchestration of angiogenesis by immune cells. Front Oncol (2014 ) 4:131.

    Not in our library10.3389/fonc.2014.00131

  6. 6.

    De Palma M Biziato D Petrova TV. Microenvironmental regulation of tumour angiogenesis. Nat Rev Cancer (2017 ) 17(8):457–74.

    Not in our library10.1038/nrc.2017.51

  7. 7.

    Noonan DM De Lerma Barbaro A Vannini N Mortara L Albini A. Inflammation, inflammatory cells and angiogenesis: decisions and indecisions. Cancer Metastasis Rev (2008 ) 27(1):31–40.

    Not in our library10.1007/s10555-007-9108-5

  8. 8.

    Shaked Y McAllister S Fainaru O Almog N. Tumor dormancy and the angiogenic switch: possible implications of bone marrow-derived cells. Curr Pharm Des (2014 ) 20(30):4920–33.

    Not in our library10.2174/1381612819666131125153536

  9. 9.
  10. 10.

    Glass CK Natoli G. Molecular control of activation and priming in macrophages. Nat Immunol (2016 ) 17(1):26–33.

    Not in our library10.1038/ni.3306

  11. 11.

    Sica A Erreni M Allavena P Porta C. Macrophage polarization in pathology. Cell Mol Life Sci (2015 ) 72(21):4111–26.

    Not in our library10.1007/s00018-015-1995-y

  12. 12.

    Murray PJ Allen JE Biswas SK Fisher EA Gilroy DW Goerdt S Macrophage activation and polarization: nomenclature and experimental guidelines. Immunity (2014 ) 41(1):14–20.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.immuni.2014.06.008

  13. 13.

    Mantovani A Reflections on immunological nomenclature: in praise of imperfection. Nat Immunol (2016 ) 17(3):215–6.

    Not in our library10.1038/ni.3354

  14. 14.

    Mantovani A Marchesi F Malesci A Laghi L Allavena P. Tumour-associated macrophages as treatment targets in oncology. Nat Rev Clin Oncol (2017 ) 14(7):399–416.

    Not in our library10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.217

  15. 15.

    Sica A Bronte V. Altered macrophage differentiation and immune dysfunction in tumor development. J Clin Invest (2007 ) 117(5):1155–66.

    Not in our library10.1172/jci31422

  16. 16.

    Coussens LM Zitvogel L Palucka AK. Neutralizing tumor-promoting chronic inflammation: a magic bullet? Science (2013 ) 339(6117):286–91.

    Not in our library10.1126/science.1232227

  17. 17.

    Mantovani A Allavena P Sica A Balkwill F. Cancer-related inflammation. Nature (2008 ) 454(7203):436–44.

    Not in our library10.1038/nature07205

  18. 18.

    Lan C Huang X Lin S Huang H Cai Q Wan T Expression of M2-polarized macrophages is associated with poor prognosis for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Technol Cancer Res Treat (2013 ) 12(3):259–67.

    Not in our library10.7785/tcrt.2012.500312

  19. 19.

    Qian BZ Pollard JW. Macrophage diversity enhances tumor progression and metastasis. Cell (2010 ) 141(1):39–51.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.cell.2010.03.014

  20. 20.

    Ryder M Ghossein RA Ricarte-Filho JC Knauf JA Fagin JA. Increased density of tumor-associated macrophages is associated with decreased survival in advanced thyroid cancer. Endocr Relat Cancer (2008 ) 15(4):1069–74.

    Not in our library10.1677/erc-08-0036

  21. 21.

    Steidl C Lee T Shah SP Farinha P Han G Nayar T Tumor-associated macrophages and survival in classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma. N Engl J Med (2010 ) 362(10):875–85.

    Not in our library10.1056/nejmoa0905680

  22. 22.

    Xu J Escamilla J Mok S David J Priceman S West B CSF1R signaling blockade stanches tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells and improves the efficacy of radiotherapy in prostate cancer. Cancer Res (2013 ) 73(9):2782–94.

    Not in our library10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-3981

  23. 23.

    Forssell J Oberg A Henriksson ML Stenling R Jung A Palmqvist R. High macrophage infiltration along the tumor front correlates with improved survival in colon cancer. Clin Cancer Res (2007 ) 13(5):1472–9.

    Not in our library10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-06-2073

  24. 24.

    Shimura S Yang G Ebara S Wheeler TM Frolov A Thompson TC. Reduced infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages in human prostate cancer: association with cancer progression. Cancer Res (2000 ) 60(20):5857–61.

    Not in our library

  25. 25.

    Welsh TJ Green RH Richardson D Waller DA O’Byrne KJ Bradding P. Macrophage and mast-cell invasion of tumor cell islets confers a marked survival advantage in non-small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol (2005 ) 23(35):8959–67.

    Not in our library10.1200/jco.2005.01.4910

  26. 26.

    Biswas SK Mantovani A. Macrophage plasticity and interaction with lymphocyte subsets: cancer as a paradigm. Nat Immunol (2010 ) 11(10):889–96.

    Not in our library10.1038/ni.1937

  27. 27.

    Ginhoux F Schultze JL Murray PJ Ochando J Biswas SK. New insights into the multidimensional concept of macrophage ontogeny, activation and function. Nat Immunol (2016 ) 17(1):34–40.

    Not in our library10.1038/ni.3324

  28. 28.

    Kumar V Cheng P Condamine T Mony S Languino LR McCaffrey JC CD45 phosphatase inhibits STAT3 transcription factor activity in myeloid cells and promotes tumor-associated macrophage differentiation. Immunity (2016 ) 44(2):303–15.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.immuni.2016.01.014

  29. 29.

    Noy R Pollard JW. Tumor-associated macrophages: from mechanisms to therapy. Immunity (2014 ) 41(1):49–61.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.immuni.2014.06.010

  30. 30.

    Ruffell B Affara NI Coussens LM. Differential macrophage programming in the tumor microenvironment. Trends Immunol (2012 ) 33(3):119–26.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.it.2011.12.001

  31. 31.
  32. 32.
  33. 33.

    Sierra JR Corso S Caione L Cepero V Conrotto P Cignetti A Tumor angiogenesis and progression are enhanced by Sema4D produced by tumor-associated macrophages. J Exp Med (2008 ) 205(7):1673–85.

    Not in our library10.1084/jem.20072602

  34. 34.

    Zhou H Binmadi NO Yang YH Proia P Basile JR. Semaphorin 4D cooperates with VEGF to promote angiogenesis and tumor progression. Angiogenesis (2012 ) 15(3):391–407.

    Not in our library10.1007/s10456-012-9268-y

  35. 35.

    Gomes FG Nedel F Alves AM Nör JE Tarquinio SB. Tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis: tumor/endothelial crosstalk and cellular/microenvironmental signaling mechanisms. Life Sci (2013 ) 92(2):101–7.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.lfs.2012.10.008

  36. 36.

    Ran S Montgomery KE. Macrophage-mediated lymphangiogenesis: the emerging role of macrophages as lymphatic endothelial progenitors. Cancers (Basel) (2012 ) 4(3):618–57.

    Not in our library10.3390/cancers4030618

  37. 37.

    Spiric Z Eri Z Eric M. Significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF-D in the progression of cutaneous melanoma. Int J Surg Pathol (2015 ) 23(8):629–37.

    Not in our library10.1177/1066896915583694

  38. 38.

    Nagakawa Y Aoki T Kasuya K Tsuchida A Koyanagi Y. Histologic features of venous invasion, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9, and the relation with liver metastasis in pancreatic cancer. Pancreas (2002 ) 24(2):169–78.

    Not in our library10.1097/00006676-200203000-00008

  39. 39.

    Sevenich L Bowman RL Mason SD Quail DF Rapaport F Elie BT Analysis of tumour- and stroma-supplied proteolytic networks reveals a brain-metastasis-promoting role for cathepsin S. Nat Cell Biol (2014 ) 16(9):876–88.

    Not in our library10.1038/ncb3011

  40. 40.

    Zhang J Sud S Mizutani K Gyetko MR Pienta KJ. Activation of urokinase plasminogen activator and its receptor axis is essential for macrophage infiltration in a prostate cancer mouse model. Neoplasia (2011 ) 13(1):23–30.

    Not in our library10.1593/neo.10728

  41. 41.

    Yang C He L He P Liu Y Wang W He Y Increased drug resistance in breast cancer by tumor-associated macrophages through IL-10/STAT3/bcl-2 signaling pathway. Med Oncol (2015 ) 32(2):352.

    Not in our library10.1007/s12032-014-0352-6

  42. 42.

    Chung FT Lee KY Wang CW Heh CC Chan YF Chen HW Tumor-associated macrophages correlate with response to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Int J Cancer (2012 ) 131(3):E227–35.

    Not in our library10.1002/ijc.27403

  43. 43.

    Zhang B Zhang Y Zhao J Wang Z Wu T Ou W M2-polarized macrophages contribute to the decreased sensitivity of EGFR-TKIs treatment in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Med Oncol (2014 ) 31(8):127.

    Not in our library10.1007/s12032-014-0127-0

  44. 44.

    Hughes R Qian BZ Rowan C Muthana M Keklikoglou I Olson OC Perivascular M2 macrophages stimulate tumor relapse after chemotherapy. Cancer Res (2015 ) 75(17):3479–91.

    Not in our library10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-3587

  45. 45.

    Mazzieri R Pucci F Moi D Zonari E Ranghetti A Berti A Targeting the ANG2/TIE2 axis inhibits tumor growth and metastasis by impairing angiogenesis and disabling rebounds of proangiogenic myeloid cells. Cancer Cell (2011 ) 19(4):512–26.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.ccr.2011.02.005

  46. 46.

    Palucka AK Coussens LM. The basis of oncoimmunology. Cell (2016 ) 164(6):1233–47.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.cell.2016.01.049

  47. 47.

    Mortara L Benest AV Bates DO Noonan DM. Can the co-dependence of the immune system and angiogenesis facilitate pharmacological targeting of tumours? Curr Opin Pharmacol (2017 ) 35:66–74.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.coph.2017.05.009

  48. 48.
  49. 49.

    Curiel TJ Coukos G Zou L Alvarez X Cheng P Mottram P Specific recruitment of regulatory T cells in ovarian carcinoma fosters immune privilege and predicts reduced survival. Nat Med (2004 ) 10(9):942–9.

    Not in our library10.1038/nm1093

  50. 50.

    Costa-Silva B Aiello NM Ocean AJ Singh S Zhang H Thakur BK Pancreatic cancer exosomes initiate pre-metastatic niche formation in the liver. Nat Cell Biol (2015 ) 17(6):816–26.

    Not in our library10.1038/ncb3169

  51. 51.

    Gil-Bernabé AM Ferjancic S Tlalka M Zhao L Allen PD Im JH Recruitment of monocytes/macrophages by tissue factor-mediated coagulation is essential for metastatic cell survival and premetastatic niche establishment in mice. Blood (2012 ) 119(13):3164–75.

    Not in our library10.1182/blood-2011-08-376426

  52. 52.
  53. 53.

    Li X Yao W Yuan Y Chen P Li B Li J Targeting of tumour-infiltrating macrophages via CCL2/CCR2 signalling as a therapeutic strategy against hepatocellular carcinoma. Gut (2017 ) 66(1):157–67.

    Not in our library10.1136/gutjnl-2015-310514

  54. 54.

    Loberg RD Ying C Craig M Day LL Sargent E Neeley C Targeting CCL2 with systemic delivery of neutralizing antibodies induces prostate cancer tumor regression in vivo. Cancer Res (2007 ) 67(19):9417–24.

    Not in our library10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-1286

  55. 55.

    U.S. National Library of Medicine. ClinicalTrials.gov (2017 ). Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=CCL2+cancer&age_v=&gndr=&type=&rslt=&phase=0&phase=1&Search=Apply

    Not in our library10.1080/15360280801989377

  56. 56.

    Halama N Zoernig I Berthel A Kahlert C Klupp F Suarez-Carmona M Tumoral immune cell exploitation in colorectal cancer metastases can be targeted effectively by anti-CCR5 therapy in cancer patients. Cancer Cell (2016 ) 29(4):587–601.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.ccell.2016.03.005

  57. 57.

    Ries CH Cannarile MA Hoves S Benz J Wartha K Runza V Targeting tumor-associated macrophages with anti-CSF-1R antibody reveals a strategy for cancer therapy. Cancer Cell (2014 ) 25(6):846–59.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.ccr.2014.05.016

  58. 58.

    Cassier PA Italiano A Gomez-Roca CA Le Tourneau C Toulmonde M Cannarile MA CSF1R inhibition with emactuzumab in locally advanced diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumours of the soft tissue: a dose-escalation and dose-expansion phase 1 study. Lancet Oncol (2015 ) 16(8):949–56.

    Not in our library10.1016/s1470-2045(15)00132-1

  59. 59.

    Pyonteck SM Akkari L Schuhmacher AJ Bowman RL Sevenich L Quail DF CSF-1R inhibition alters macrophage polarization and blocks glioma progression. Nat Med (2013 ) 19(10):1264–72.

    Not in our library10.1038/nm.3337

  60. 60.

    Junankar S Shay G Jurczyluk J Ali N Down J Pocock N Real-time intravital imaging establishes tumor-associated macrophages as the extraskeletal target of bisphosphonate action in cancer. Cancer Discov (2015 ) 5(1):35–42.

    Not in our library10.1158/2159-8290.cd-14-0621

  61. 61.

    Van Acker HH Anguille S Willemen Y Smits EL Van Tendeloo VF. Bisphosphonates for cancer treatment: mechanisms of action and lessons from clinical trials. Pharmacol Ther (2016 ) 158:24–40.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.11.008

  62. 62.

    Beatty GL Chiorean EG Fishman MP Saboury B Teitelbaum UR Sun W CD40 agonists alter tumor stroma and show efficacy against pancreatic carcinoma in mice and humans. Science (2011 ) 331(6024):1612–6.

    Not in our library10.1126/science.1198443

  63. 63.

    Beatty GL Torigian DA Chiorean EG Saboury B Brothers A Alavi A A phase I study of an agonist CD40 monoclonal antibody (CP-870,893) in combination with gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Clin Cancer Res (2013 ) 19(22):6286–95.

    Not in our library10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-1320

  64. 64.

    Allavena P Germano G Belgiovine C D’Incalci M Mantovani A. Trabectedin: a drug from the sea that strikes tumor-associated macrophages. Oncoimmunology (2013 ) 2(6):e24614.

    Not in our library10.4161/onci.24614

  65. 65.

    Germano G Frapolli R Belgiovine C Anselmo A Pesce S Liguori M Role of macrophage targeting in the antitumor activity of trabectedin. Cancer Cell (2013 ) 23(2):249–62.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.ccr.2013.01.008

  66. 66.

    Kolaczkowska E Kubes P. Neutrophil recruitment and function in health and inflammation. Nat Rev Immunol (2013 ) 13(3):159–75.

    Not in our library10.1038/nri3399

  67. 67.

    Tecchio C Scapini P Pizzolo G Cassatella MA. On the cytokines produced by human neutrophils in tumors. Semin Cancer Biol (2013 ) 23(3):159–70.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.semcancer.2013.02.004

  68. 68.

    Donskov F. Immunomonitoring and prognostic relevance of neutrophils in clinical trials. Semin Cancer Biol (2013 ) 23(3):200–7.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.semcancer.2013.02.001

  69. 69.

    Galdiero MR Bianchi P Grizzi F Di Caro G Basso G Ponzetta A Occurrence and significance of tumor-associated neutrophils in patients with colorectal cancer. Int J Cancer (2016 ) 139(2):446–56.

    Not in our library10.1002/ijc.30076

  70. 70.

    Jensen HK Donskov F Marcussen N Nordsmark M Lundbeck F von der Maase H. Presence of intratumoral neutrophils is an independent prognostic factor in localized renal cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol (2009 ) 27(28):4709–17.

    Not in our library10.1200/jco.2008.18.9498

  71. 71.

    Kuang DM Zhao Q Wu Y Peng C Wang J Xu Z Peritumoral neutrophils link inflammatory response to disease progression by fostering angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol (2011 ) 54(5):948–55.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.jhep.2010.08.041

  72. 72.
  73. 73.

    Trellakis S Bruderek K Dumitru CA Gholaman H Gu X Bankfalvi A Polymorphonuclear granulocytes in human head and neck cancer: enhanced inflammatory activity, modulation by cancer cells and expansion in advanced disease. Int J Cancer (2011 ) 129(9):2183–93.

    Not in our library10.1002/ijc.25892

  74. 74.

    Wislez M Rabbe N Marchal J Milleron B Crestani B Mayaud C Hepatocyte growth factor production by neutrophils infiltrating bronchioloalveolar subtype pulmonary adenocarcinoma: role in tumor progression and death. Cancer Res (2003 ) 63(6):1405–12.

    Not in our library

  75. 75.

    Benelli R Albini A Noonan D Neutrophils and angiogenesis: potential initiators of the angiogenic cascade. In: Cassatella MA, editor. The Neutrophil: An Emerging Regulator of Inflammatory and Immune Response. Basel: Karger (2003 ). p. 167–81.

    Not in our library10.1159/000071560

  76. 76.

    Benelli R Morini M Carrozzino F Ferrari N Minghelli S Santi L Neutrophils as a key cellular target for angiostatin: implications for regulation of angiogenesis and inflammation. FASEB J (2002 ) 16(2):267–9.

    Not in our library10.1096/fj.01-0651fje

  77. 77.

    Scapini P Morini M Tecchio C Minghelli S Di Carlo E Tanghetti E CXCL1/macrophage inflammatory protein-2-induced angiogenesis in vivo is mediated by neutrophil-derived vascular endothelial growth factor-A. J Immunol (2004 ) 172(8):5034–40.

    Not in our library10.4049/jimmunol.172.8.5034

  78. 78.

    Scapini P Nesi L Morini M Tanghetti E Belleri M Noonan D Generation of biologically active angiostatin kringle 1-3 by activated human neutrophils. J Immunol (2002 ) 168(11):5798–804.

    Not in our library10.4049/jimmunol.168.11.5798

  79. 79.

    Tazzyman S Niaz H Murdoch C. Neutrophil-mediated tumour angiogenesis: subversion of immune responses to promote tumour growth. Semin Cancer Biol (2013 ) 23(3):149–58.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.semcancer.2013.02.003

  80. 80.

    Eruslanov EB Bhojnagarwala PS Quatromoni JG Stephen TL Ranganathan A Deshpande C Tumor-associated neutrophils stimulate T cell responses in early-stage human lung cancer. J Clin Invest (2014 ) 124(12):5466–80.

    Not in our library10.1172/jci77053

  81. 81.

    Fridlender ZG Sun J Kim S Kapoor V Cheng G Ling L Polarization of tumor-associated neutrophil phenotype by TGF-beta: “N1” versus “N2” TAN. Cancer Cell (2009 ) 16(3):183–94.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.ccr.2009.06.017

  82. 82.

    Shaul ME Fridlender ZG. Neutrophils as active regulators of the immune system in the tumor microenvironment. J Leukoc Biol (2017 ) 102(2):343–9.

    Not in our library10.1189/jlb.5mr1216-508r

  83. 83.

    Jablonska J Leschner S Westphal K Lienenklaus S Weiss S. Neutrophils responsive to endogenous IFN-beta regulate tumor angiogenesis and growth in a mouse tumor model. J Clin Invest (2010 ) 120(4):1151–64.

    Not in our library10.1172/jci37223

  84. 84.

    Andzinski L Kasnitz N Stahnke S Wu CF Gereke M von Köckritz-Blickwede M Type I IFNs induce anti-tumor polarization of tumor associated neutrophils in mice and human. Int J Cancer (2016 ) 138(8):1982–93.

    Not in our library10.1002/ijc.29945

  85. 85.

    Liang W Ferrara N. The complex role of neutrophils in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Cancer Immunol Res (2016 ) 4(2):83–91.

    Not in our library10.1158/2326-6066.cir-15-0313

  86. 86.

    Shojaei F Wu X Zhong C Yu L Liang XH Yao J Bv8 regulates myeloid-cell-dependent tumour angiogenesis. Nature (2007 ) 450(7171):825–31.

    Not in our library10.1038/nature06348

  87. 87.

    Qu X Zhuang G Yu L Meng G Ferrara N. Induction of Bv8 expression by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in CD11b+Gr1+ cells: key role of Stat3 signaling. J Biol Chem (2012 ) 287(23):19574–84.

    Not in our library10.1074/jbc.m111.326801

  88. 88.

    Kujawski M Kortylewski M Lee H Herrmann A Kay H Yu H. Stat3 mediates myeloid cell-dependent tumor angiogenesis in mice. J Clin Invest (2008 ) 118(10):3367–77.

    Not in our library10.1172/jci35213

  89. 89.

    Coussens LM Tinkle CL Hanahan D Werb Z. MMP-9 supplied by bone marrow-derived cells contributes to skin carcinogenesis. Cell (2000 ) 103(3):481–90.

    Not in our library10.1016/s0092-8674(00)00139-2

  90. 90.

    Nozawa H Chiu C Hanahan D. Infiltrating neutrophils mediate the initial angiogenic switch in a mouse model of multistage carcinogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2006 ) 103(33):12493–8.

    Not in our library10.1073/pnas.0601807103

  91. 91.

    Ardi VC Kupriyanova TA Deryugina EI Quigley JP. Human neutrophils uniquely release TIMP-free MMP-9 to provide a potent catalytic stimulator of angiogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2007 ) 104(51):20262–7.

    Not in our library10.1073/pnas.0706438104

  92. 92.
  93. 93.

    Loffredo S Borriello F Iannone R Ferrara AL Galdiero MR Gigantino V Group V secreted phospholipase A2 induces the release of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors by human neutrophils. Front Immunol (2017 ) 8:443.

    Not in our library10.3389/fimmu.2017.00443

  94. 94.

    Kikuchi R Nakamura K MacLauchlan S Ngo DT Shimizu I Fuster JJ An antiangiogenic isoform of VEGF-A contributes to impaired vascularization in peripheral artery disease. Nat Med (2014 ) 20(12):1464–71.

    Not in our library10.1038/nm.3703

  95. 95.

    Deryugina EI Zajac E Juncker-Jensen A Kupriyanova TA Welter L Quigley JP. Tissue-infiltrating neutrophils constitute the major in vivo source of angiogenesis-inducing MMP-9 in the tumor microenvironment. Neoplasia (2014 ) 16(10):771–88.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.neo.2014.08.013

  96. 96.

    Cools-Lartigue J Spicer J McDonald B Gowing S Chow S Giannias B Neutrophil extracellular traps sequester circulating tumor cells and promote metastasis. J Clin Invest (2013 ) 123(8):3446–58.

    Not in our library10.1172/jci67484

  97. 97.

    Gordon-Weeks AN Lim SY Yuzhalin AE Jones K Markelc B Kim KJ Neutrophils promote hepatic metastasis growth through fibroblast growth factor 2-dependent angiogenesis in mice. Hepatology (2017 ) 65(6):1920–35.

    Not in our library10.1002/hep.29088

  98. 98.

    Steele CW Karim SA Leach JDG Bailey P Upstill-Goddard R Rishi L CXCR2 inhibition profoundly suppresses metastases and augments immunotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Cell (2016 ) 29(6):832–45.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.ccell.2016.04.014

  99. 99.

    Tabariès S Ouellet V Hsu BE Annis MG Rose AA Meunier L Granulocytic immune infiltrates are essential for the efficient formation of breast cancer liver metastases. Breast Cancer Res (2015 ) 17:45.

    Not in our library10.1186/s13058-015-0558-3

  100. 100.

    Rivera LB Meyronet D Hervieu V Frederick MJ Bergsland E Bergers G. Intratumoral myeloid cells regulate responsiveness and resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. Cell Rep (2015 ) 11(4):577–91.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.celrep.2015.03.055

  101. 101.

    Ma Y Shurin GV Gutkin DW Shurin MR. Tumor associated regulatory dendritic cells. Semin Cancer Biol (2012 ) 22(4):298–306.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.semcancer.2012.02.010

  102. 102.

    Shurin GV Ma Y Shurin MR Immunosuppressive mechanisms of regulatory dendritic cells in cancer. Cancer Microenviron (2013 ) 6(2):159–67.

    Not in our library10.1007/s12307-013-0133-3

  103. 103.

    Marvel D Gabrilovich DI. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment: expect the unexpected. J Clin Invest (2015 ) 125(9):3356–64.

    Not in our library10.1172/jci80005

  104. 104.

    Talmadge JE Gabrilovich DI. History of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Nat Rev Cancer (2013 ) 13(10):739–52.

    Not in our library10.1038/nrc3581

  105. 105.

    Ugel S De Sanctis F Mandruzzato S Bronte V. Tumor-induced myeloid deviation: when myeloid-derived suppressor cells meet tumor-associated macrophages. J Clin Invest (2015 ) 125(9):3365–76.

    Not in our library10.1172/jci80006

  106. 106.

    Kumar V Patel S Tcyganov E Gabrilovich DI. The nature of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment. Trends Immunol (2016 ) 37(3):208–20.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.it.2016.01.004

  107. 107.

    Motz GT Coukos G. The parallel lives of angiogenesis and immunosuppression: cancer and other tales. Nat Rev Immunol (2011 ) 11(10):702–11.

    Not in our library10.1038/nri3064

  108. 108.

    Maruo Y Konno H Baba S. Therapeutic effects of liposomal adriamycin in combination with tumor necrosis factor-alpha. J Surg Oncol (1992 ) 49(1):20–4.

    Not in our library10.1002/jso.2930490106

  109. 109.

    Murdoch C Muthana M Coffelt SB Lewis CE. The role of myeloid cells in the promotion of tumour angiogenesis. Nat Rev Cancer (2008 ) 8(8):618–31.

    Not in our library10.1038/nrc2444

  110. 110.

    Porta C Sica A Riboldi E Tumor-associated myeloid cells: new understandings on their metabolic regulation and their influence in cancer immunotherapy. FEBS J (2018 ) 285(4):717–33.

    Not in our library10.1111/febs.14288

  111. 111.

    Sica A Strauss L Consonni FM Travelli C Genazzani A Porta C Metabolic regulation of suppressive myeloid cells in cancer. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev (2017 ) 35:27–35.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.cytogfr.2017.05.002

  112. 112.

    Sica A Strauss L. Energy metabolism drives myeloid-derived suppressor cell differentiation and functions in pathology. J Leukoc Biol (2017 ) 102(2):325–34.

    Not in our library10.1189/jlb.4mr1116-476r

  113. 113.

    Hossain F Al-Khami AA Wyczechowska D Hernandez C Zheng L Reiss K Inhibition of fatty acid oxidation modulates immunosuppressive functions of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and enhances cancer therapies. Cancer Immunol Res (2015 ) 3(11):1236–47.

    Not in our library10.1158/2326-6066.cir-15-0036

  114. 114.

    Park J Lee SE Hur J Hong EB Choi JI Yang JM M-CSF from cancer cells induces fatty acid synthase and PPARbeta/delta activation in tumor myeloid cells, leading to tumor progression. Cell Rep (2015 ) 10(9):1614–25.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.celrep.2015.02.024

  115. 115.

    Kim SH Li M Trousil S Zhang Y Pasca di Magliano M Swanson KD Phenformin inhibits myeloid-derived suppressor cells and enhances the anti-tumor activity of PD-1 blockade in melanoma. J Invest Dermatol (2017 ) 137(8):1740–8.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.jid.2017.03.033

  116. 116.

    Gabrilovich DI Ostrand-Rosenberg S Bronte V. Coordinated regulation of myeloid cells by tumours. Nat Rev Immunol (2012 ) 12(4):253–68.

    Not in our library10.1038/nri3175

  117. 117.

    Brencicova E Jagger AL Evans HG Georgouli M Laios A Attard Montalto S Interleukin-10 and prostaglandin E2 have complementary but distinct suppressive effects on toll-like receptor-mediated dendritic cell activation in ovarian carcinoma. PLoS One (2017 ) 12(4):e0175712.

    Not in our library10.1371/journal.pone.0175712

  118. 118.

    Chae CS Teran-Cabanillas E Cubillos-Ruiz JR. Dendritic cell rehab: new strategies to unleash therapeutic immunity in ovarian cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother (2017 ) 66(8):969–77.

    Not in our library10.1007/s00262-017-1958-2

  119. 119.

    Conejo-Garcia JR Rutkowski MR Cubillos-Ruiz JR State-of-the-art of regulatory dendritic cells in cancer. Pharmacol Ther (2016 ) 164:97–104.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.pharmthera.2016.04.003

  120. 120.

    Herber DL Cao W Nefedova Y Novitskiy SV Nagaraj S Tyurin VA Lipid accumulation and dendritic cell dysfunction in cancer. Nat Med (2010 ) 16(8):880–6.

    Not in our library10.1038/nm.2172

  121. 121.

    Conejo-Garcia JR Benencia F Courreges MC Kang E Mohamed-Hadley A Buckanovich RJ Tumor-infiltrating dendritic cell precursors recruited by a beta-defensin contribute to vasculogenesis under the influence of Vegf-A. Nat Med (2004 ) 10(9):950–8.

    Not in our library10.1038/nm1097

  122. 122.

    Scarlett UK Rutkowski MR Rauwerdink AM Fields J Escovar-Fadul X Baird J Ovarian cancer progression is controlled by phenotypic changes in dendritic cells. J Exp Med (2012 ) 209(3):495–506.

    Not in our library10.1084/jem.20111413

  123. 123.

    Gardner A Ruffell B. Dendritic cells and cancer immunity. Trends Immunol (2016 ) 37(12):855–65.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.it.2016.09.006

  124. 124.

    Veglia F Gabrilovich DI. Dendritic cells in cancer: the role revisited. Curr Opin Immunol (2017 ) 45:43–51.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.coi.2017.01.002

  125. 125.

    Croci DO Cerliani JP Dalotto-Moreno T Méndez-Huergo SP Mascanfroni ID Dergan-Dylon S Glycosylation-dependent lectin-receptor interactions preserve angiogenesis in anti-VEGF refractory tumors. Cell (2014 ) 156(4):744–58.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.cell.2014.01.043

  126. 126.

    Banerjee DK Dhodapkar MV Matayeva E Steinman RM Dhodapkar KM. Expansion of FOXP3high regulatory T cells by human dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro and after injection of cytokine-matured DCs in myeloma patients. Blood (2006 ) 108(8):2655–61.

    Not in our library10.1182/blood-2006-03-011353

  127. 127.

    Ghiringhelli F Puig PE Roux S Parcellier A Schmitt E Solary E Tumor cells convert immature myeloid dendritic cells into TGF-beta-secreting cells inducing CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell proliferation. J Exp Med (2005 ) 202(7):919–29.

    Not in our library10.1084/jem.20050463

  128. 128.

    Liu VC Wong LY Jang T Shah AH Park I Yang X Tumor evasion of the immune system by converting CD4+CD25- T cells into CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells: role of tumor-derived TGF-beta. J Immunol (2007 ) 178(5):2883–92.

    Not in our library10.4049/jimmunol.178.5.2883

  129. 129.

    Yang M Ma C Liu S Shao Q Gao W Song B HIF-dependent induction of adenosine receptor A2b skews human dendritic cells to a Th2-stimulating phenotype under hypoxia. Immunol Cell Biol (2010 ) 88(2):165–71.

    Not in our library10.1038/icb.2009.77

  130. 130.

    Gabrilovich DI. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Cancer Immunol Res (2017 ) 5(1):3–8.

    Not in our library10.1158/2326-6066.cir-16-0297

  131. 131.
  132. 132.

    Chan CY St John AL Abraham SN. Plasticity in mast cell responses during bacterial infections. Curr Opin Microbiol (2012 ) 15(1):78–84.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.mib.2011.10.007

  133. 133.

    Marichal T Starkl P Reber LL Kalesnikoff J Oettgen HC Tsai M A beneficial role for immunoglobulin E in host defense against honeybee venom. Immunity (2013 ) 39(5):963–75.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.immuni.2013.10.005

  134. 134.

    Palm NW Rosenstein RK Yu S Schenten DD Florsheim E Medzhitov R. Bee venom phospholipase A2 induces a primary type 2 response that is dependent on the receptor ST2 and confers protective immunity. Immunity (2013 ) 39(5):976–85.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.immuni.2013.10.006

  135. 135.

    Wang Z Lai Y Bernard JJ Macleod DT Cogen AL Moss B Skin mast cells protect mice against vaccinia virus by triggering mast cell receptor S1PR2 and releasing antimicrobial peptides. J Immunol (2012 ) 188(1):345–57.

    Not in our library10.4049/jimmunol.1101703

  136. 136.

    Marone G Varricchi G Loffredo S Granata F. Mast cells and basophils in inflammatory and tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Eur J Pharmacol (2016 ) 778:146–51.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.03.088

  137. 137.

    Jachetti E Rigoni A Bongiovanni L Arioli I Botti L Parenza M Imatinib spares cKit-expressing prostate neuroendocrine tumors, whereas kills seminal vesicle epithelial-stromal tumors by targeting PDGFR-beta. Mol Cancer Ther (2017 ) 16(2):365–75.

    Not in our library10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0466

  138. 138.

    Coussens LM Raymond WW Bergers G Laig-Webster M Behrendtsen O Werb Z Inflammatory mast cells up-regulate angiogenesis during squamous epithelial carcinogenesis. Genes Dev (1999 ) 13(11):1382–97.

    Not in our library10.1101/gad.13.11.1382

  139. 139.

    de Souza Junior DA Santana AC da Silva EZ Oliver C Jamur MC. The role of mast cell specific chymases and tryptases in tumor angiogenesis. Biomed Res Int (2015 ) 2015:142359.

    Not in our library10.1155/2015/142359

  140. 140.

    Chen Y Li C Xie H Fan Y Yang Z Ma J Infiltrating mast cells promote renal cell carcinoma angiogenesis by modulating PI3K – >AKT – >GSK3beta – >AM signaling. Oncogene (2017 ) 36(20):2879–88.

    Not in our library10.1038/onc.2016.442

  141. 141.

    Ammendola M Leporini C Marech I Gadaleta CD Scognamillo G Sacco R Targeting mast cells tryptase in tumor microenvironment: a potential antiangiogenetic strategy. Biomed Res Int (2014 ) 2014:154702.

    Not in our library10.1155/2014/154702

  142. 142.

    Ammendola M Patruno R Sacco R Marech I Sammarco G Zuccalà V Mast cells positive to tryptase and tumour-associated macrophages correlate with angiogenesis in locally advanced colorectal cancer patients undergone to surgery. Expert Opin Ther Targets (2016 ) 20(5):533–40.

    Not in our library10.1517/14728222.2016.1158811

  143. 143.

    Vyzoukaki R Tsirakis G Pappa CA Androulakis N Kokonozaki M Tzardi M Correlation of mast cell density with angiogenic cytokines in patients with active multiple myeloma. Clin Ther (2016 ) 38(2):297–301.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.clinthera.2015.11.022

  144. 144.

    Nico B Mangieri D Crivellato E Vacca A Ribatti D. Mast cells contribute to vasculogenic mimicry in multiple myeloma. Stem Cells Dev (2008 ) 17(1):19–22.

    Not in our library10.1089/scd.2007.0132

  145. 145.
  146. 146.

    Ranieri G Ammendola M Patruno R Celano G Zito FA Montemurro S Tryptase-positive mast cells correlate with angiogenesis in early breast cancer patients. Int J Oncol (2009 ) 35(1):115–20.

    Not in our library10.3892/ijo_00000319

  147. 147.
  148. 148.
  149. 149.

    Wu P Wu D Ni C Ye J Chen W Hu G gammadeltaT17 cells promote the accumulation and expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in human colorectal cancer. Immunity (2014 ) 40(5):785–800.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.immuni.2014.03.013

  150. 150.

    Numasaki M Watanabe M Suzuki T Takahashi H Nakamura A McAllister F IL-17 enhances the net angiogenic activity and in vivo growth of human non-small cell lung cancer in SCID mice through promoting CXCR-2-dependent angiogenesis. J Immunol (2005 ) 175(9):6177–89.

    Not in our library10.4049/jimmunol.175.9.6177

  151. 151.

    Qian X Chen H Wu X Hu L Huang Q Jin Y. Interleukin-17 acts as double-edged sword in anti-tumor immunity and tumorigenesis. Cytokine (2017 ) 89:34–44.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.cyto.2015.09.011

  152. 152.

    Wakita D Sumida K Iwakura Y Nishikawa H Ohkuri T Chamoto K Tumor-infiltrating IL-17-producing gammadelta T cells support the progression of tumor by promoting angiogenesis. Eur J Immunol (2010 ) 40(7):1927–37.

    Not in our library10.1002/eji.200940157

  153. 153.

    Liu J Duan Y Cheng X Chen X Xie W Long H IL-17 is associated with poor prognosis and promotes angiogenesis via stimulating VEGF production of cancer cells in colorectal carcinoma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2011 ) 407(2):348–54.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.03.021

  154. 154.
  155. 155.

    Patil RS Shah SU Shrikhande SV Goel M Dikshit RP Chiplunkar SV IL17 producing gammadeltaT cells induce angiogenesis and are associated with poor survival in gallbladder cancer patients. Int J Cancer (2016 ) 139(4):869–81.

    Not in our library10.1002/ijc.30134

  156. 156.

    Campbell JJ Ebsworth K Ertl LS McMahon JP Newland D Wang Y IL-17-secreting gammadelta T cells are completely dependent upon CCR6 for homing to inflamed skin. J Immunol (2017 ) 199(9):3129–36.

    Not in our library10.4049/jimmunol.1700826

  157. 157.

    Carrega P Campana S Bonaccorsi I Ferlazzo G. The Yin and Yang of innate lymphoid cells in cancer. Immunol Lett (2016 ) 179:29–35.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.imlet.2016.06.003

  158. 158.

    Mattner J Wirtz S. Friend or foe? The ambiguous role of innate lymphoid cells in cancer development. Trends Immunol (2017 ) 38(1):29–38.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.it.2016.10.004

  159. 159.

    Spits H Cupedo T. Innate lymphoid cells: emerging insights in development, lineage relationships, and function. Annu Rev Immunol (2012 ) 30:647–75.

    Not in our library10.1146/annurev-immunol-020711-075053

  160. 160.

    Vallentin B Barlogis V Piperoglou C Cypowyj S Zucchini N Chéné M Innate lymphoid cells in cancer. Cancer Immunol Res (2015 ) 3(10):1109–14.

    Not in our library10.1158/2326-6066.cir-15-0222

  161. 161.

    Mjosberg J Spits H Human innate lymphoid cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol (2016 ) 138(5):1265–76.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.jaci.2016.09.009

  162. 162.

    Spits H Artis D Colonna M Diefenbach A Di Santo JP Eberl G Innate lymphoid cells – a proposal for uniform nomenclature. Nat Rev Immunol (2013 ) 13(2):145–9.

    Not in our library10.1038/nri3365

  163. 163.

    Buonocore S Ahern PP Uhlig HH Ivanov II Littman DR Maloy KJ Innate lymphoid cells drive interleukin-23-dependent innate intestinal pathology. Nature (2010 ) 464(7293):1371–5.

    Not in our library10.1038/nature08949

  164. 164.

    Chang YJ Kim HY Albacker LA Baumgarth N McKenzie AN Smith DE Innate lymphoid cells mediate influenza-induced airway hyper-reactivity independently of adaptive immunity. Nat Immunol (2011 ) 12(7):631–8.

    Not in our library10.1038/ni.2045

  165. 165.

    Halim TY Krauss RH Sun AC Takei F. Lung natural helper cells are a critical source of Th2 cell-type cytokines in protease allergen-induced airway inflammation. Immunity (2012 ) 36(3):451–63.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.immuni.2011.12.020

  166. 166.

    Kim BS Siracusa MC Saenz SA Noti M Monticelli LA Sonnenberg GF TSLP elicits IL-33-independent innate lymphoid cell responses to promote skin inflammation. Sci Transl Med (2013 ) 5(170):170ra16

    Not in our library10.1126/scitranslmed.3005374

  167. 167.

    McHedlidze T Waldner M Zopf S Walker J Rankin AL Schuchmann M Interleukin-33-dependent innate lymphoid cells mediate hepatic fibrosis. Immunity (2013 ) 39(2):357–71.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.immuni.2013.07.018

  168. 168.

    Roediger B Kyle R Yip KH Sumaria N Guy TV Kim BS Cutaneous immunosurveillance and regulation of inflammation by group 2 innate lymphoid cells. Nat Immunol (2013 ) 14(6):564–73.

    Not in our library10.1038/ni.2584

  169. 169.

    Hazenberg MD Spits H. Human innate lymphoid cells. Blood (2014 ) 124(5):700–9.

    Not in our library10.1182/blood-2013-11-427781

  170. 170.

    Dadi S Chhangawala S Whitlock BM Franklin RA Luo CT Oh SA Cancer immunosurveillance by tissue-resident innate lymphoid cells and innate-like T cells. Cell (2016 ) 164(3):365–77.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.cell.2016.01.002

  171. 171.

    van Beek JJP Martens AWJ Bakdash G de Vries IJM Innate lymphoid cells in tumor immunity. Biomedicines (2016 ) 4(1):E7

    Not in our library10.3390/biomedicines4010007

  172. 172.

    Jovanovic IP Pejnovic NN Radosavljevic GD Pantic JM Milovanovic MZ Arsenijevic NN Interleukin-33/ST2 axis promotes breast cancer growth and metastases by facilitating intratumoral accumulation of immunosuppressive and innate lymphoid cells. Int J Cancer (2014 ) 134(7):1669–82.

    Not in our library10.1002/ijc.28481

  173. 173.

    Geremia A Arancibia-Cárcamo CV Fleming MP Rust N Singh B Mortensen NJ IL-23-responsive innate lymphoid cells are increased in inflammatory bowel disease. J Exp Med (2011 ) 208(6):1127–33.

    Not in our library10.1084/jem.20101712

  174. 174.

    Chen X Xie Q Cheng X Diao X Cheng Y Liu J Role of interleukin-17 in lymphangiogenesis in non-small-cell lung cancer: enhanced production of vascular endothelial growth factor C in non-small-cell lung carcinoma cells. Cancer Sci (2010 ) 101(11):2384–90.

    Not in our library10.1111/j.1349-7006.2010.01684.x

  175. 175.

    Huang Q Duan L Qian X Fan J Lv Z Zhang X IL-17 promotes angiogenic factors IL-6, IL-8, and Vegf production via Stat1 in lung adenocarcinoma. Sci Rep (2016 ) 6:36551.

    Not in our library10.1038/srep36551

  176. 176.

    Numasaki M Fukushi J Ono M Narula SK Zavodny PJ Kudo T Interleukin-17 promotes angiogenesis and tumor growth. Blood (2003 ) 101(7):2620–7.

    Not in our library10.1182/blood-2002-05-1461

  177. 177.

    He D Li H Yusuf N Elmets CA Li J Mountz JD IL-17 promotes tumor development through the induction of tumor promoting microenvironments at tumor sites and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. J Immunol (2010 ) 184(5):2281–8.

    Not in our library10.4049/jimmunol.0902574

  178. 178.

    Li Q Liu L Zhang Q Liu S Ge D You Z. Interleukin-17 indirectly promotes M2 macrophage differentiation through stimulation of COX-2/PGE2 pathway in the cancer cells. Cancer Res Treat (2014 ) 46(3):297–306.

    Not in our library10.4143/crt.2014.46.3.297

  179. 179.

    Kirchberger S Royston DJ Boulard O Thornton E Franchini F Szabady RL Innate lymphoid cells sustain colon cancer through production of interleukin-22 in a mouse model. J Exp Med (2013 ) 210(5):917–31.

    Not in our library10.1084/jem.20122308

  180. 180.

    Irshad S Flores-Borja F Lawler K Monypenny J Evans R Male V RORgammat(+) innate lymphoid cells promote lymph node metastasis of breast cancers. Cancer Res (2017 ) 77(5):1083–96.

    Not in our library10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-0598

  181. 181.

    Tian Z van Velkinburgh JC Wu Y Ni B. Innate lymphoid cells involve in tumorigenesis. Int J Cancer (2016 ) 138(1):22–9.

    Not in our library10.1002/ijc.29443

  182. 182.
  183. 183.
  184. 184.

    Shields JD Kourtis IC Tomei AA Roberts JM Swartz MA. Induction of lymphoidlike stroma and immune escape by tumors that express the chemokine CCL21. Science (2010 ) 328(5979):749–52.

    Not in our library10.1126/science.1185837

  185. 185.

    Carrega P Loiacono F Di Carlo E Scaramuccia A Mora M Conte R NCR(+)ILC3 concentrate in human lung cancer and associate with intratumoral lymphoid structures. Nat Commun (2015 ) 6:8280.

    Not in our library10.1038/ncomms9280

  186. 186.

    Shikhagaie MM Björklund ÅK Mjösberg J Erjefält JS Cornelissen AS Ros XR Neuropilin-1 is expressed on lymphoid tissue residing LTi-like group 3 innate lymphoid cells and associated with ectopic lymphoid aggregates. Cell Rep (2017 ) 18(7):1761–73.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.celrep.2017.01.063

  187. 187.

    Cooper MA Fehniger TA Caligiuri MA. The biology of human natural killer-cell subsets. Trends Immunol (2001 ) 22(11):633–40.

    Not in our library10.1016/s1471-4906(01)02060-9

  188. 188.

    De Maria A Bozzano F Cantoni C Moretta L. Revisiting human natural killer cell subset function revealed cytolytic CD56(dim)CD16+ NK cells as rapid producers of abundant IFN-gamma on activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2011 ) 108(2):728–32.

    Not in our library10.1073/pnas.1012356108

  189. 189.

    Fauriat C Long EO Ljunggren HG Bryceson YT. Regulation of human NK-cell cytokine and chemokine production by target cell recognition. Blood (2010 ) 115(11):2167–76.

    Not in our library10.1182/blood-2009-08-238469

  190. 190.

    Cantoni C Huergo-Zapico L Parodi M Pedrazzi M Mingari MC Moretta A NK cells, tumor cell transition, and tumor progression in solid malignancies: new hints for NK-based immunotherapy? J Immunol Res (2016 ) 2016:4684268.

    Not in our library10.1155/2016/4684268

  191. 191.

    Narni-Mancinelli E Vivier E Kerdiles YM. The ‘T-cell-ness’ of NK cells: unexpected similarities between NK cells and T cells. Int Immunol (2011 ) 23(7):427–31.

    Not in our library10.1093/intimm/dxr035

  192. 192.

    Vitale M Cantoni C Pietra G Mingari MC Moretta L. Effect of tumor cells and tumor microenvironment on NK-cell function. Eur J Immunol (2014 ) 44(6):1582–92.

    Not in our library10.1002/eji.201344272

  193. 193.

    Zhang J Marotel M Fauteux-Daniel S Mathieu AL Viel S Marçais A T-bet and Eomes govern differentiation and function of mouse and human NK cells and ILC1. Eur J Immunol (2018 ).

    Not in our library10.1002/eji.201747299

  194. 194.

    Del Zotto G Marcenaro E Vacca P Sivori S Pende D Della Chiesa M Markers and function of human NK cells in normal and pathological conditions. Cytometry B Clin Cytom (2017 ) 92(2):100–14.

    Not in our library10.1002/cyto.b.21508

  195. 195.

    Della Chiesa M Pesce S Muccio L Carlomagno S Sivori S Moretta A Features of memory-like and PD-1(+) human NK cell subsets. Front Immunol (2016 ) 7:351.

    Not in our library10.3389/fimmu.2016.00351

  196. 196.

    Molgora M Bonavita E Ponzetta A Riva F Barbagallo M Jaillon S IL-1R8 is a checkpoint in NK cells regulating anti-tumour and anti-viral activity. Nature (2017 ) 551(7678):110–4.

    Not in our library10.1038/nature24293

  197. 197.

    Putz EM Guillerey C Kos K Stannard K Miles K Delconte RB Targeting cytokine signaling checkpoint CIS activates NK cells to protect from tumor initiation and metastasis. Oncoimmunology (2017 ) 6(2):e1267892.

    Not in our library10.1080/2162402x.2016.1267892

  198. 198.

    Le Bouteiller P Tabiasco J Killers become builders during pregnancy. Nat Med (2006 ) 12(9):991–2.

    Not in our library10.1038/nm0906-991

  199. 199.

    Hanna J Goldman-Wohl D Hamani Y Avraham I Greenfield C Natanson-Yaron S Decidual NK cells regulate key developmental processes at the human fetal-maternal interface. Nat Med (2006 ) 12(9):1065–74.

    Not in our library10.1038/nm1452

  200. 200.

    Hanna J Mandelboim O. When killers become helpers. Trends Immunol (2007 ) 28(5):201–6.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.it.2007.03.005

  201. 201.

    Blois SM Klapp BF Barrientos G. Decidualization and angiogenesis in early pregnancy: unravelling the functions of DC and NK cells. J Reprod Immunol (2011 ) 88:86–92.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.jri.2010.11.002

  202. 202.

    Santoni A Zingoni A Cerboni C Gismondi A. Natural killer (NK) cells from killers to regulators: distinct features between peripheral blood and decidual NK cells. Am J Reprod Immunol (2007 ) 58(3):280–8.

    Not in our library10.1111/j.1600-0897.2007.00513.x

  203. 203.
  204. 204.

    Bruno A Focaccetti C Pagani A Imperatori AS Spagnoletti M Rotolo N The proangiogenic phenotype of natural killer cells in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Neoplasia (2013 ) 15(2):133–42.

    Not in our library10.1593/neo.121758

  205. 205.

    Allan DS Rybalov B Awong G Zúñiga-Pflücker JC Kopcow HD Carlyle JR TGF-beta affects development and differentiation of human natural killer cell subsets. Eur J Immunol (2010 ) 40(8):2289–95.

    Not in our library10.1002/eji.200939910

  206. 206.

    Keskin DB Allan DS Rybalov B Andzelm MM Stern JN Kopcow HD TGFbeta promotes conversion of CD16+ peripheral blood NK cells into CD16- NK cells with similarities to decidual NK cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2007 ) 104(9):3378–83.

    Not in our library10.1073/pnas.0611098104

  207. 207.

    Cerdeira AS Rajakumar A Royle CM Lo A Husain Z Thadhani RI Conversion of peripheral blood NK cells to a decidual NK-like phenotype by a cocktail of defined factors. J Immunol (2013 ) 190(8):3939–48.

    Not in our library10.4049/jimmunol.1202582

  208. 208.

    Gao Y Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes F Bald T Ng SS Young A Ngiow SF Tumor immunoevasion by the conversion of effector NK cells into type 1 innate lymphoid cells. Nat Immunol (2017 ) 18(9):1004–15.

    Not in our library10.1038/ni.3800

  209. 209.

    Schito L Semenza GL. Hypoxia-inducible factors: master regulators of cancer progression. Trends Cancer (2016 ) 2(12):758–70.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.trecan.2016.10.016

  210. 210.
  211. 211.

    Gotthardt D Putz EM Grundschober E Prchal-Murphy M Straka E Kudweis P STAT5 is a key regulator in NK cells and acts as a molecular switch from tumor surveillance to tumor promotion. Cancer Discov (2016 ) 6(4):414–29.

    Not in our library10.1158/2159-8290.cd-15-0732

  212. 212.

    Hoeres T Wilhelm M Smetak M Holzmann E Schulze-Tanzil G Birkmann J Immune cells regulate VEGF signaling via release of VEGF and antagonistic soluble VEGF receptor-1. Clin Exp Immunol (2018 ) 192(1):54–67.

    Not in our library10.1111/cei.13090

  213. 213.

    Whiteside TL Demaria S Rodriguez-Ruiz ME Zarour HM Melero I. Emerging opportunities and challenges in cancer immunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res (2016 ) 22(8):1845–55.

    Not in our library10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-0049

  214. 214.

    Lesokhin AM Callahan MK Postow MA Wolchok JD. On being less tolerant: enhanced cancer immunosurveillance enabled by targeting checkpoints and agonists of T cell activation. Sci Transl Med (2015 ) 7(280):280sr1.

    Not in our library10.1126/scitranslmed.3010274

  215. 215.

    Winograd R Byrne KT Evans RA Odorizzi PM Meyer AR Bajor DL Induction of T-cell immunity overcomes complete resistance to PD-1 and CTLA-4 blockade and improves survival in pancreatic carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Res (2015 ) 3(4):399–411.

    Not in our library10.1158/2326-6066.cir-14-0215

  216. 216.

    Gopalakrishnan V Spencer CN Nezi L Reuben A Andrews MC Karpinets TV Gut microbiome modulates response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in melanoma patients. Science (2018 ) 359(6371):97–103.

    Not in our library10.1126/science.aan4236

  217. 217.

    Routy B Le Chatelier E Derosa L Duong CPM Alou MT Daillère R Gut microbiome influences efficacy of PD-1-based immunotherapy against epithelial tumors. Science (2018 ) 359(6371):91–7.

    Not in our library10.1126/science.aan3706

  218. 218.

    Zitvogel L Daillère R Roberti MP Routy B Kroemer G. Anticancer effects of the microbiome and its products. Nat Rev Microbiol (2017 ) 15(8):465–78.

    Not in our library10.1038/nrmicro.2017.44

  219. 219.

    Garrett WS. Cancer and the microbiota. Science (2015 ) 348(6230):80–6.

    Not in our library10.1126/science.aaa4972

  220. 220.

    Dirkx AE oude Egbrink MG Castermans K van der Schaft DW Thijssen VL Dings RP Anti-angiogenesis therapy can overcome endothelial cell anergy and promote leukocyte-endothelium interactions and infiltration in tumors. FASEB J (2006 ) 20(6):621–30.

    Not in our library10.1096/fj.05-4493com

  221. 221.

    Ohm JE Carbone DP. VEGF as a mediator of tumor-associated immunodeficiency. Immunol Res (2001 ) 23(2–3):263–72.

    Not in our library10.1385/ir:23:2-3:263

  222. 222.

    Voron T Colussi O Marcheteau E Pernot S Nizard M Pointet AL VEGF-A modulates expression of inhibitory checkpoints on CD8+ T cells in tumors. J Exp Med (2015 ) 212(2):139–48.

    Not in our library10.1084/jem.20140559

  223. 223.

    Ebos JM Kerbel RS. Antiangiogenic therapy: impact on invasion, disease progression, and metastasis. Nat Rev Clin Oncol (2011 ) 8(4):210–21.

    Not in our library10.1038/nrclinonc.2011.21

  224. 224.
  225. 225.

    Allegrezza MJ Conejo-Garcia JR Targeted therapy and immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Trends Cancer (2017 ) 3(1):19–27.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.trecan.2016.11.009

  226. 226.

    Pitt JM Marabelle A Eggermont A Soria JC Kroemer G Zitvogel L. Targeting the tumor microenvironment: removing obstruction to anticancer immune responses and immunotherapy. Ann Oncol (2016 ) 27(8):1482–92.

    Not in our library10.1093/annonc/mdw168

  227. 227.

    Gill DM Hahn AW Hale P Maughan BL. Overview of current and future first-line systemic therapy for metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Curr Treat Options Oncol (2018 ) 19(1):6.

    Not in our library10.1007/s11864-018-0517-1

  228. 228.

    Chen Y Liu YC Sung YC Ramjiawan RR Lin TT Chang CC Overcoming sorafenib evasion in hepatocellular carcinoma using CXCR4-targeted nanoparticles to co-deliver MEK-inhibitors. Sci Rep (2017 ) 7:44123.

    Not in our library10.1038/srep44123

  229. 229.

    Huang Y Goel S Duda DG Fukumura D Jain RK. Vascular normalization as an emerging strategy to enhance cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Res (2013 ) 73(10):2943–8.

    Not in our library10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-4354

  230. 230.

    Huang Y Yuan J Righi E Kamoun WS Ancukiewicz M Nezivar J Vascular normalizing doses of antiangiogenic treatment reprogram the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and enhance immunotherapy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2012 ) 109(43):17561–6.

    Not in our library10.1073/pnas.1215397109

  231. 231.

    Shrimali RK Yu Z Theoret MR Chinnasamy D Restifo NP Rosenberg SA. Antiangiogenic agents can increase lymphocyte infiltration into tumor and enhance the effectiveness of adoptive immunotherapy of cancer. Cancer Res (2010 ) 70(15):6171–80.

    Not in our library10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-0153

  232. 232.

    Hodi FS Lawrence D Lezcano C Wu X Zhou J Sasada T Bevacizumab plus ipilimumab in patients with metastatic melanoma. Cancer Immunol Res (2014 ) 2(7):632–42.

    Not in our library10.1158/2326-6066.cir-14-0053

  233. 233.

    Mendez-Huergo SP Blidner AG Rabinovich GA. Galectins: emerging regulatory checkpoints linking tumor immunity and angiogenesis. Curr Opin Immunol (2017 ) 45:8–15.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.coi.2016.12.003

  234. 234.

    Wu X Giobbie-Hurder A Liao X Lawrence D McDermott D Zhou J VEGF neutralization plus CTLA-4 blockade alters soluble and cellular factors associated with enhancing lymphocyte infiltration and humoral recognition in melanoma. Cancer Immunol Res (2016 ) 4(10):858–68.

    Not in our library10.1158/2326-6066.cir-16-0084

  235. 235.

    Wu X Li J Connolly EM Liao X Ouyang J Giobbie-Hurder A Combined anti-VEGF and anti-CTLA-4 therapy elicits humoral immunity to galectin-1 which is associated with favorable clinical outcomes. Cancer Immunol Res (2017 ) 5(6):446–54.

    Not in our library10.1158/2326-6066.cir-16-0385

  236. 236.

    Schmittnaegel M Rigamonti N Kadioglu E Cassará A Wyser Rmili C Kiialainen A Dual angiopoietin-2 and VEGFA inhibition elicits antitumor immunity that is enhanced by PD-1 checkpoint blockade. Sci Transl Med (2017 ) 9(385):eaak9670.

    Not in our library10.1126/scitranslmed.aak9670

  237. 237.

    Allen E Jabouille A Rivera LB Lodewijckx I Missiaen R Steri V Combined antiangiogenic and anti-PD-L1 therapy stimulates tumor immunity through HEV formation. Sci Transl Med (2017 ) 9(385):eaak9679.

    Not in our library10.1126/scitranslmed.aak9679

  238. 238.

    Guillerey C Huntington ND Smyth MJ. Targeting natural killer cells in cancer immunotherapy. Nat Immunol (2016 ) 17(9):1025–36.

    Not in our library10.1038/ni.3518

  239. 239.

    Petty AJ Yang Y. Tumor-associated macrophages: implications in cancer immunotherapy. Immunotherapy (2017 ) 9(3):289–302.

    Not in our library10.2217/imt-2016-0135

  240. 240.

    De Henau O Rausch M Winkler D Campesato LF Liu C Cymerman DH Overcoming resistance to checkpoint blockade therapy by targeting PI3Kgamma in myeloid cells. Nature (2016 ) 539(7629):443–7.

    Not in our library10.1038/nature20554

  241. 241.

    Kaneda MM Messer KS Ralainirina N Li H Leem CJ Gorjestani S PI3Kgamma is a molecular switch that controls immune suppression. Nature (2016 ) 539(7629):437–42.

    Not in our library10.1038/nature19834

  242. 242.

    Drew DA Cao Y Chan AT. Aspirin and colorectal cancer: the promise of precision chemoprevention. Nat Rev Cancer (2016 ) 16(3):173–86.

    Not in our library10.1038/nrc.2016.4

  243. 243.

    Cuzick J Thorat MA Bosetti C Brown PH Burn J Cook NR Estimates of benefits and harms of prophylactic use of aspirin in the general population. Ann Oncol (2015 ) 26(1):47–57.

    Not in our library10.1093/annonc/mdu225

  244. 244.

    Hamada T Cao Y Qian ZR Masugi Y Nowak JA Yang J Aspirin use and colorectal cancer survival according to tumor CD274 (programmed cell death 1 ligand 1) expression status. J Clin Oncol (2017 ) 35(16):1836–44.

    Not in our library10.1200/jco.2016.70.7547

  245. 245.
  246. 246.

    Albini A DeCensi A Cavalli F Costa A. Cancer prevention and interception: a new era for chemopreventive approaches. Clin Cancer Res (2016 ) 22(17):4322–7.

    Not in our library10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-0695

  247. 247.

    Talarico G Orecchioni S Dallaglio K Reggiani F Mancuso P Calleri A Aspirin and atenolol enhance metformin activity against breast cancer by targeting both neoplastic and microenvironment cells. Sci Rep (2016 ) 6:18673.

    Not in our library10.1038/srep18673

  248. 248.

    Albini A Bassani B Baci D Dallaglio K Gallazzi M Corradino P Nutraceuticals and “repurposed” drugs of phytochemical origin in prevention and interception of chronic degenerative disease and cancer. Curr Med Chem (2018 ).

    Not in our library10.2174/0929867324666170920144130

  249. 249.

    Dallaglio K Bruno A Cantelmo AR Esposito AI Ruggiero L Orecchioni S Paradoxic effects of metformin on endothelial cells and angiogenesis. Carcinogenesis (2014 ) 35(5):1055–66.

    Not in our library10.1093/carcin/bgu001

  250. 250.

    Orecchioni S Reggiani F Talarico G Mancuso P Calleri A Gregato G The biguanides metformin and phenformin inhibit angiogenesis, local and metastatic growth of breast cancer by targeting both neoplastic and microenvironment cells. Int J Cancer (2015 ) 136(6):E534–44.

    Not in our library10.1002/ijc.29193

  251. 251.

    Pollak M. The effects of metformin on gut microbiota and the immune system as research frontiers. Diabetologia (2017 ) 60(9):1662–7.

    Not in our library10.1007/s00125-017-4352-x

  252. 252.

    Eikawa S Nishida M Mizukami S Yamazaki C Nakayama E Udono H. Immune-mediated antitumor effect by type 2 diabetes drug, metformin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2015 ) 112(6):1809–14.

    Not in our library10.1073/pnas.1417636112

  253. 253.

    Ball MS Shipman EP Kim H Liby KT Pioli PA. CDDO-Me redirects activation of breast tumor associated macrophages. PLoS One (2016 ) 11(2):e0149600.

    Not in our library10.1371/journal.pone.0149600

  254. 254.

    Fitzpatrick LR Stonesifer E Small JS Liby KT. The synthetic triterpenoid (CDDO-Im) inhibits STAT3, as well as IL-17, and improves DSS-induced colitis in mice. Inflammopharmacology (2014 ) 22(6):341–9.

    Not in our library10.1007/s10787-014-0203-2

  255. 255.

    Leal AS Sporn MB Pioli PA Liby KT. The triterpenoid CDDO-imidazolide reduces immune cell infiltration and cytokine secretion in the KrasG12D;Pdx1-Cre (KC) mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Carcinogenesis (2016 ) 37(12):1170–9.

    Not in our library10.1093/carcin/bgw099

  256. 256.

    Benelli R Venè R Ciarlo M Carlone S Barbieri O Ferrari N The AKT/NF-kappaB inhibitor xanthohumol is a potent anti-lymphocytic leukemia drug overcoming chemoresistance and cell infiltration. Biochem Pharmacol (2012 ) 83(12):1634–42.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.bcp.2012.03.006

  257. 257.

    Dell’Eva R Ambrosini C Vannini N Piaggio G Albini A Ferrari N. AKT/NF-kappaB inhibitor xanthohumol targets cell growth and angiogenesis in hematologic malignancies. Cancer (2007 ) 110(9):2007–11.

    Not in our library10.1002/cncr.23017

  258. 258.

    Lust S Vanhoecke B Janssens A Philippe J Bracke M Offner F. Xanthohumol kills B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells by an apoptotic mechanism. Mol Nutr Food Res (2005 ) 49(9):844–50.

    Not in our library10.1002/mnfr.200500045

  259. 259.

    Monteghirfo S Tosetti F Ambrosini C Stigliani S Pozzi S Frassoni F Antileukemia effects of xanthohumol in Bcr/Abl-transformed cells involve nuclear factor-kappaB and p53 modulation. Mol Cancer Ther (2008 ) 7(9):2692–702.

    Not in our library10.1158/1535-7163.mct-08-0132

  260. 260.

    Zhang W Pan Y Gou P Zhou C Ma L Liu Q Effect of xanthohumol on Th1/Th2 balance in a breast cancer mouse model. Oncol Rep (2018 ) 39(1):280–8.

    Not in our library10.3892/or.2017.6094

  261. 261.
  262. 262.

    Mukherjee S Baidoo JNE Sampat S Mancuso A David L Cohen LS Liposomal TriCurin, a synergistic combination of curcumin, epicatechin gallate and resveratrol, repolarizes tumor-associated microglia/macrophages, and eliminates glioblastoma (GBM) and GBM stem cells. Molecules (2018 ) 23(1):E201.

    Not in our library10.3390/molecules23010201

  263. 263.

    Ferrari N Tosetti F De Flora S Donatelli F Sogno I Noonan DM Diet-derived phytochemicals: from cancer chemoprevention to cardio-oncological prevention. Curr Drug Targets (2011 ) 12(13):1909–24.

    Not in our library10.2174/138945011798184227

  264. 264.

    Albini A Pennesi G Donatelli F Cammarota R De Flora S Noonan DM. Cardiotoxicity of anticancer drugs: the need for cardio-oncology and cardio-oncological prevention. J Natl Cancer Inst (2010 ) 102(1):14–25.

    Not in our library10.1093/jnci/djp440

Cited by papers we hold 19

Reads

Read by people on this page

None yet.

Checked or read by AI through naulon

None yet.

A person counts once a day per paper. We keep no cookie and no address: a reader is a hash that changes every day. Any month under five reads shows no number.

Are you an author?

Is this your paper?

Claim it to add your note and be paid when agents cite it. Free.