Neutrophils: hidden accomplices in colorectal cancer?

By Ana Espino | Published on March 23, 2026 | 3 min read


Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. While the role of T lymphocytes in tumor immunosurveillance is well established, the involvement of neutrophils—key cells of innate immunity—is drawing increasing attention.  

Long regarded as simple mediators of acute inflammation, neutrophils are now recognized as complex regulators of the tumor microenvironment. Their accumulation in colorectal tumors is associated with poorer clinical outcomes, although their functions remain heterogeneous and context-dependent.