Heart of the matter: Neutrophils, cancer, and cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Cancer and cardiovascular disease together are leading causes of death worldwide, and cancer patients display an abnormally elevated burden of cardiovascular disease. Neutrophils-key immune cells known primarily by their roles in inflammation and infection-can link these two pathological conditions. Neutrophils contribute to cancer progression and cardiovascular complications through various mechanisms, including their ability to promote inflammation, thrombosis, and vascular damage by interacting with vascular endothelial cells, platelets, and other immune cells, or by forming NETs. In cancer, neutrophils contribute to a hypercoagulability state, which promotes tumor growth and metastasis, and can also lead to thrombotic events, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Cancer affects neutrophil numbers and functional properties, induces the appearance of several neutrophil subtypes, and can alter hematopoiesis. Here we summarize the links between cancer and cardiovascular disease, focusing on the role of neutrophils and cancer-elicited changes to their function in connecting these two disease states and highlighting the neutrophils' dynamic interaction with both diseases.