Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) Formation Following Chemotherapy and Their Role in Antitumor Activity

Examine neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation, in relation to other neutrophil functions like chemotaxis, superoxide production, hydrogen peroxide production, and the presence of myeloperoxidase, in pediatric patients undergoing chemotherpy for solid and hematological malignancies. This data could shed new light on the mechanism responsible for the increased susceptibility to infection among these patients and aid in improving their prophylactic antimicrobial treatment. NETs formation against tumor cell lines and their ability to kill tumor cells will also be examined. The finding of NETs activity against tumor cells could have a major contribution to the investigators understanding of the function of the immune system against cancer.