Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are crucial in the progression of several cancers. The formation of NETs is closely related to reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the granule proteins involved in nucleosome depolymerization under the action of ROS together with the loosened DNA compose the basic structure of NETs. This study aims to investigate the specific mechanisms of NETs promoting gastric cancer metastasis in order to perfect the existing immunotherapy strategies.
In this study, the cells and tumor tissues of gastric cancer were detected by immunological experiments, real-time polymerase chain reaction and cytology experiments. Besides, bioinformatics analysis was used to analyze the correlation between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the immune microenvironment of gastric cancer, as well as its effect on immunotherapy.
Examination of clinical specimens showed that NETs were deposited in tumor tissues of patients with gastric cancer and their expression was significantly correlated with tumor staging. Bioinformatics analysis showed that COX-2 was involved in gastric cancer progression and was associated with immune cell infiltration as well as immunotherapy.
NETs can promote gastric cancer metastasis by initiating COX-2 through TLR2, and COX-2 may become a target for gastric cancer immunotherapy.