Notch as an Immunologic Basis of Cancer Disparities.

Abstract

Inter-individual differences due to racial/ethnic backgrounds may alter host immunity responsible for the cancer immunosurveillance and elimination, leading to disparate cancer incidence and relapse. One basis of disparity in tumor incidence, progression or therapeutic outcomes could lie in the components of Notch intercellular communication system, which provide instructive signals for a variety of pathways regulating cell commitment and differentiation including context-dependent lymphocyte polarization in tumor microenvironment. Notch signaling in hematopoietic cells is perturbed by tumor growth for its advantage, and there are indications that differences in Notch components could underlie poor cancer prognosis in certain populations. Here, we discuss the oncogenic and immunologic aspects of Notch, which should inform on cancer health disparities and therapeutic outcomes.