Quantitative Characteristics of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Tumor Tissues in Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recently, the role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in oncopathology, including colorectal cancer (CRC), has become a subject of discussion. Literature review showed that in CRC, there are separate experimental and clinical studies devoted to assess the ability of neutrophils to form NET. A methodological approach, common to these studies, was that the ability of blood neutrophils in patients with CRC to form NET was evaluated in vitro.

AIM: We undertook a study of the NETs presence in the tumor tissues, on the periphery of the tumor, and in healthy tissues with CRC at different stages and different types of therapy.

METHODS: The study was carried out in the framework of the scientific and technical program “Personalized approach to the management of number of significant diseases” developed by the Non-commercial Joint-Stock Company “Karaganda Medical University,” funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

RESULTS: Patients with CRC II and III stages are more likely to have NET in the center, on the periphery of the tumor and in healthy tissues adjacent to the tumor than in patients with CRC of Stage I. It was also found that radiation therapy as a pre-operative preparation contributed to an increase in the number of NET in the center of the tumor in patients with Stage I rectal cancer.

CONCLUSION: Thus, our data revealed an increase in NET in the center and periphery of CRC, and an increase in their number after pre-operative radiation therapy was shown. The next stage of our study will be devoted to study the structural features of NET and their interaction with other effector cells and tumor cells.