The dark side of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor: a supportive therapy with potential to promote tumour progression.

The dark side of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor: a supportive therapy with potential to promote tumour progression. Clin Exp Metastasis. 2018 Jul 02;: Authors: Yeo B, Redfern AD, Mouchemore KA, Hamilton JA, Anderson RL Abstract Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is one of several cytokines that can expand and mobilize haematopoietic precursor cells from bone marrow. In particular, G-CSF mobilizes neutrophils when the host is challenged by infection or tissue damage. Severe neutropenia, or febrile neutropenia is a life-threatening event that can be mitigated by administration of G-CSF. Consequently, G-CSF has been used to support patients undergoing chemotherapy who would otherwise require dose reduction due to neutropenia. Over the past 10-15 years it has become increasingly apparent, in preclinical tumour growth and metastasis models, that G-CSF can support tumour progression by mobilization of tumour-associated neutrophils which consequently promote tumour dissemination and metastasis. With the increasing use of G-CSF in the clinic, it is pertinent to ask if there is any evidence of a similar promotion of tumour progression in patients. Here, we have reviewed the preclinical and clinical data on the potential contribution of G-CSF to tumour progression. We conclude that, whilst the evidence for a promotion of metastasis is strong in preclinical models and that limited data indicate that high serum G-CSF levels in...
Source: Clinical Breast Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Clin Exp Metastasis Source Type: research