Dual Nature of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)—From Cancer’s Ally to Therapeutic Target

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Noah

Cancer remains a major global health challenge requiring diagnostic and therapeutic advances, especially tools that can detect and track disease with minimal invasiveness. Liquid biopsy is a promising approach for screening, prognosis, and treatment monitoring, with neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) emerging as potential liquid biopsy markers. NETs are web-like chromatin structures released by neutrophils to capture and neutralize pathogens, yet dysregulated NET formation contributes to tumor progression and metastasis. Elevated NETs correlate with cancer stage and poorer outcomes via NET markers and linked cfDNA levels.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Keywords

1. Introduction

Liquid biopsy overview

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) as biomarkers

Review Dual Nature of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)—From Cancer’s Ally to Therapeutic Target Karolina Buszka 1,2, Claudia Dompe 2,3, Kinga Derwich 3, Izabela Pie´scikowska 1,4, Michał Nowicki 1 and Joanna Budna-Tukan 1,3,4, * Academic Editor: Xin Lu Received: 1 July 2025 Revised: 31 July 2025 Accepted: 2 August 2025 Published: 5 August 2025 Citation: Buszka, K.; Dompe, C.; Derwich, K.; Pie´scikowska, I.; Nowicki, M.; Budna-Tukan, J. Dual Nature of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)—From Cancer’sAlly to Therapeutic Target. Cells 2025, 14, 1200 . [https://doi.org/10.3390/](https://doi.org/10.3390/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.3390/)cells14151200 Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://creativecommons.org/](https://creativecommons.org/)[ ](https://creativecommons.org/)[licenses/by/4.0/](licenses/by/4.0/)) . 1 Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, Poland; [karolina.buszka@student.ump.edu.pl](karolina.buszka@student.ump.edu.pl) (K.B.); [ipiescikowska@ump.edu.pl](ipiescikowska@ump.edu.pl) (I.P.); [mnowicki@ump.edu.pl](mnowicki@ump.edu.pl) (M.N.) 2 Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-812 Poznan, Poland; [84416@student.ump.edu.pl](84416@student.ump.edu.pl) [3](3 Department of Immunology)[ Department of Immunology](3 Department of Immunology), [Poznan University of Medical Sciences](Poznan University of Medical Sciences), [60-806 Poznan](60-806 Poznan), [Poland](Poland); [kingaderwich@ump.edu.pl](kingaderwich@ump.edu.pl) 4 Department of Anatomy and Histology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Gora, 65-046 Zielona Gora, Poland * [Correspondence: jbudna@ump.edu.pl](Correspondence: jbudna@ump.edu.pl) Abstract Cancer remains a major global health challenge requiring the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Liquid biopsy is considered a promising minimally invasive tool for cancer screening, prognosis and treatment monitoring. Recent studies suggest that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) may also be potential liquid biopsy markers. NETs are web-like chromatin structures released by neutrophils in response to various stimuli to trap and neutralize pathogens. However, excessive or dysregulated NET formation has been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis. Elevated levels of NETs have been observed in patients with various types of cancer and correlate with disease stage and prognosis. The presence of NET markers such as citrullinated histone H3 (H3Cit), neutrophilelastase (NE) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) has been associated with higher tumor burden and poorer clinical outcomes. Several studies have shown a positive correlation between NET markers and circulating free DNA (cfDNA) levels, suggesting that NETs may increase the sensitivity of liquid biopsy in detecting and monitoring cancer progression. This review examines the role of NETs in the tumor microenvironment, their contribution to cancer progression and metastasis, and their potential use in liquid biopsy and cancer therapy. Keywords: neutrophils; neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs); tumors; liquid biopsy; metastasis; biomarkers; tumor microenvironment; immune system; NET inhibitors 1. Introduction Cancer remains a significant challenge to modern medicine, with millions of new cases and deaths reported globally each year, as shown by the Global Cancer Observatory [1] . This highlights the urgent need for effective and quick diagnostic and monitoring tools for early detection, accurate staging and personalized treatment. Liquid biopsy is a minimally invasive approach that allows disease detection in peripheral blood samples, emerging as a valuable avenue for cancer management, advancing prognostics and treatment selection and monitoring. This method is based on

FAQs

What are neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)?

NETs are web-like chromatin structures released by neutrophils in response to various stimuli. They help trap and neutralize pathogens through embedded antimicrobial proteins such as NE, MPO, and histones.

Why are NETs important in cancer research?

Excessive or dysregulated NET formation has been linked to tumor progression and metastasis. NET levels and NET marker presence correlate with disease stage and prognosis.

How might NETs contribute to liquid biopsy?

NET markers and their association with circulating free DNA (cfDNA) suggest NETs may improve the sensitivity of liquid biopsy for detecting and monitoring cancer progression. The review also discusses NET roles in the tumor microenvironment and potential therapeutic targeting.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Noah