Reciprocal interaction of neutrophils and tumour cells in bacterially colonized carcinomas
Tumour-associated neutrophils (TAN) receive extrinsic signals from the tumour microenvironment, undergo intratumoural adaptation and reciprocally interact with tumour cells to modulate cancer cell behaviour. The precise nature of these signals and their dependency on the tumour context is unclear. In preliminary work, we identified intratumoural bacterially colonized niches in which activated neutrophils, through reciprocal interaction with head & neck cancer (HNC) cells, induced partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (pEMT) and nodal metastasis. In related work, we identified pEMT-specific reprogramming of HNC tumour cells towards an invasive phenotype, resulting in poor survival of patients with carcinoma-associated fibroblast (CAF) profiles. Collectively, these findings suggest that functional adaptation of TAN and CAF in conjunction with cancer cell plasticity influences tumour behaviour. Here, we aim to unravel mechanisms underlying TAN-induced pEMT and nodal metastasis in bacterially colonized cancers.
Team
Publications
IL-1α Drives a Tumor-Stroma-Neutrophil Axis through Inflammatory Fibroblast Activation in Head and Neck CancerHanschmann, E.-M.; Bruderek, K.; Hofmann-Vega, F.; Schmidt, M.; Budeus, B.; Oberlies, W.; Wei, X.; Richter, M.; Lemm, S.; Szlachetko, J. A.; Ryan, S.; Bader, A.; Daser, A.; Lang, S.; Maier-Begandt, D.; Hussain, T.; Soehnlein, O.; Brandau, S.
2026 bioRxiv
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Tumor Cells That Resist Neutrophil Anticancer Cytotoxicity Acquire a Prometastatic and Innate Immune Escape PhenotypeSzlachetko, J. A.; Hofmann-Vega, F.; Budeus, B.; Schröder, L.-J.; Dumitru, C. A.; Schmidt, M.; Deuss, E.; Vollmer, S.; Hanschmann, E.-M.; Busch, M.; Kehrmann, J.; Lang, S.; Dünker, N.; Hussain, T.; Brandau, S.
2025 Cell Mol Immunol
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Controversies associated with the identification of the true origins of human neutrophilsSilvestre-Roig, C.; Brandau, S.
2024 Journal of Leukocyte Biology
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Mononuclear Myeloid Cells Can Shape Neutrophils in Brain Tumors. |
Surface CD52, CD84, and PTGER2 mark mature PMN-MDSCs from cancer patients and G-CSF-treated donorsPettinella, F.; Mariotti, B.; Lattanzi, C.; Bruderek, K.; Donini, M.; Costa, S.; Marini, O.; Iannoto, G.; Gasperini, S.; Caveggion, E.; Castellucci, M.; Calzetti, F.; Bianchetto-Aguilera, F.; Gardiman, E.; Giani, M.; Dusi, S.; Cantini, M.; Vassanelli, A.; Pavone, D.; Milella, M.; Pilotto, S.; Biondani, P.; Höing, B.; Schleupner, M. C.; Hussain, T.; Hadaschik, B.; Kaspar, C.; Visco, C.; Tecchio, C.; Koenderman, L.; Bazzoni, F.; Tamassia, N.; Brandau, S.; Cassatella, M. A.; Scapini, P.
2024 Cell Rep Med
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Neutrophils - Biology and DiversityMaier-Begandt, D.; Alonso-Gonzalez, N.; Klotz, L.; Erpenbeck, L.; Jablonska, J.; Immler, R.; Hasenberg, A.; Mueller, T. T.; Herrero-Cervera, A.; Aranda-Pardos, I.; Flora, K.; Zarbock, A.; Brandau, S.; Schulz, C.; Soehnlein, O.; Steiger, S.; the TRR332 consortium.
2023 Nephrol Dial Transplant
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HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer Is Characterized by Distinct Profiles of CD8+ T Cells and Myeloid-Derived Suppressor CellsKansy, B. A.; Wehrs, T. P.; Bruderek, K.; Si, Y.; Ludwig, S.; Droege, F.; Hasskamp, P.; Henkel, U.; Dominas, N.; Hoffmann, T. K.; Horn, P. A.; Schuler, M.; Gauler, T. C.; Lindemann, M.; Lang, S.; Bankfalvi, A.; Brandau, S.
2023 Cancer Immunol Immunother
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N1 versus N2 and PMN-MDSC: A critical appraisal of current concepts on tumor-associated neutrophils and new directions for human oncologyAntuamwine, B. B.; Bosnjakovic, R.; Hofmann-Vega, F.; Wang, X.; Theodosiou, T.; Iliopoulos, I.; Brandau, S.
2022 Immunological Reviews
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PMN-MDSC in newborns: Regulation of the regulators |
Gold Nanorods Induce Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Autocrine Inflammatory Activation in Human NeutrophilsSchirrmann, R.; Erkelenz, M.; Lamers, K.; Sritharan, O.; Nachev, M.; Sures, B.; Schlücker, S.; Brandau, S.
2022 ACS Nano
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