Open Access

REVIEW

Mast Cells in the Solid Tumor Microenvironment: Multiple Roles and Targeted Therapeutic Potential

Chenglu Lu^1,#, Huiting Zhang^2,#, Ujjal K. Bhawal^3,4, Lei Wang¹, Jingwu Li¹, Pangzhou Chen^5,*, Lewei Zhu^6,*

1 Department of Pathology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, The Cancer Institute, Tangshan People’s Hospital, Tangshan, 063001, China
2 Department of Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
3 Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600077, India
4 Research Institute of Oral Science, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Chiba, 271-8587, Japan
5 Department of Breast Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, 528000, China
6 The First People’s Hospital of Foshan (The Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology), School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Foshan, 528000, China

* Corresponding Authors: Pangzhou Chen. Email: ; Lewei Zhu. Email:
# These authors contributed equally to this work

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Novel Targets and Biomarkers in Solid Tumors)

Oncology Research 2025, 33(12), 3657-3678. https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2025.069703

Received 28 June 2025; Accepted 17 September 2025; Issue published 27 November 2025

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex network composed of non-tumor cells, extracellular matrix, blood vessels, and various molecular signals that surround and profoundly influence tumor progression. As one of the key immune effector cells within the TME, mast cells (MCs) exhibit functional complexity, and their specific roles remain widely debated. Depending on the cancer type, spatial distribution, and interactions with other TME components, MCs can demonstrate dual regulatory capabilities—either promoting or inhibiting tumor growth. This characteristic has made them an important focus in current tumor immunology research. This review aims to systematically review the current understanding of MCs in the TME, with emphasis on their characteristics and functional differences across various tumor types, pathological status, and species. In recent years, advances in the understanding of MC markers, activation mechanisms, and biological functions have made targeting specific MC subsets an emerging therapeutic strategy. By comprehensively examining the origin, activation mechanisms, cellular interactions, and therapeutic regulation of MCs, this review provides new perspectives and a basis for future directions in tumor research and treatment.

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Keywords

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