The Role of Neutrophil Elastase and Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in the Progression of Cancer

Neutrophils, the most abundant type of leukocyte in the human body, have a varied arsenal with which to kill invading microbes. One such method is through the production of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are able to physically ensnare microbes and kill them with neutrophil granule proteins. However, NETs have also been implicated in cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. I propose a role for NET granule proteins, such as neutrophil elastase, in the promotion of this cancer cell growth and spread, and suggest the breakdown of these DNA structures as a novel treatment for cancer