TY - JOUR
T1 - Controversial role of mast cells in skin cancers
AU - Varricchi, Gilda
AU - Galdiero, Maria R.
AU - Marone, Giancarlo
AU - Granata, Francescopaolo
AU - Borriello, Francesco
AU - Marone, Gianni
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Cancer development is a multistep process characterized by genetic and epigenetic alterations during tumor initiation and progression. The stromal microenvironment can promote tumor development. Mast cells, widely distributed throughout all tissues, are a stromal component of many solid and haematologic tumors. Mast cells can be found in human and mouse models of skin cancers such as melanoma, basal and squamous cell carcinomas, primary cutaneous lymphomas, haemangiomas and Merkel cell carcinoma. However, human and animal studies addressing potential functions of mast cells and their mediators in skin cancers have provided conflicting results. In several studies, mast cells play a pro-tumorigenic role, whereas in others, they play an anti-tumorigenic role. Other studies have failed to demonstrate a clear role for tumor-associated mast cells. Many unanswered questions need to be addressed before we understand whether tumor-associated mast cells are adversaries, allies or simply innocent bystanders in different types and subtypes of skin cancers.
AB - Cancer development is a multistep process characterized by genetic and epigenetic alterations during tumor initiation and progression. The stromal microenvironment can promote tumor development. Mast cells, widely distributed throughout all tissues, are a stromal component of many solid and haematologic tumors. Mast cells can be found in human and mouse models of skin cancers such as melanoma, basal and squamous cell carcinomas, primary cutaneous lymphomas, haemangiomas and Merkel cell carcinoma. However, human and animal studies addressing potential functions of mast cells and their mediators in skin cancers have provided conflicting results. In several studies, mast cells play a pro-tumorigenic role, whereas in others, they play an anti-tumorigenic role. Other studies have failed to demonstrate a clear role for tumor-associated mast cells. Many unanswered questions need to be addressed before we understand whether tumor-associated mast cells are adversaries, allies or simply innocent bystanders in different types and subtypes of skin cancers.
KW - Angiogenesis
KW - Cancer
KW - Inflammation
KW - Lymphangiogenesis
KW - Mast cells
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84995743785&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84995743785&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/exd.13107
DO - 10.1111/exd.13107
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84995743785
JO - Experimental Dermatology
JF - Experimental Dermatology
SN - 0906-6705
ER -