Trogocytosis at crossroads: Navigating the duality in tumor-immune cell interactions.

Trogocytosis, derived from the Greek "trogo-," meaning "nibble," is a cellular process in which one cell extracts membrane fragments and surface molecules from another, modulating the functions of both donor and recipient cells. In tumor immunology, trogocytosis between immune cells and tumor cells exhibits paradoxical effects. Conflicting reports suggest it can enhance antitumor effects through processes like trogoptosis, antigen presentation, and beneficial antigen shaving, while facilitating protumor effects by antigen masking, immune cell exhaustion, immune cell fratricide, and detrimental antigen shaving. In this review, we discuss recent insights in trogocytosis between immune cells (T cells, natural killer cells, neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, chimeric antigen receptor cells, and antigen-presenting cells) and tumor cells, summarize the distinct interaction patterns and characteristics, and highlight its dual role in enhancing anti-tumor immunity and facilitating tumor immune evasion. Additionally, we explore the strategies to exploit trogocytosis in immunotherapy, aiming to deepen insights into immune-tumor interactions and to improve therapeutic outcomes.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer

• Publication date

  2025-08-01

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189431PMID 40865650
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• Biomechanics in the tumor microenvironment: from biological functions to potential clinical applications

  2025cited by this paper
• Neutrophils in cancer: from biology to therapy

  2024cited by this paper
• Cancer cells impair monocyte-mediated T cell stimulation to evade immunity

  2024cited by this paper
• HLA-G can be transfered via trogocytosis from leukemic cells to T cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

  2024cited by this paper
• Trogocytosis in CAR immune cell therapy: a key mechanism of tumor immune escape

  2024cited by this paper
• Preclinical development of three novel CARs targeting CD79b for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and characterization of the loss of the target antigen

  2024cited by this paper
• MHC class I-dressing is mediated via phosphatidylserine recognition and is enhanced by polyI:C

  2024cited by this paper
• Natural killer cell therapies

  2024cited by this paper
• Human Tumor–Associated Macrophages and Neutrophils Regulate Antitumor Antibody Efficacy through Lethal and Sublethal Trogocytosis

  2024cited by this paper
• Next-Generation CEA-CAR-NK-92 Cells against Solid Tumors: Overcoming Tumor Microenvironment Challenges in Colorectal Cancer

  2024cited by this paper
• The hallmarks of cancer immune evasion.

  2024cited by this paper
• Metabolic programming and immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment.

  2023cited by this paper
• A Case Study of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Function: Donor Therapeutic Differences in Activity and Modulation with Verteporfin

  2023cited by this paper
• Hypoxic microenvironment in cancer: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic interventions

  2023cited by this paper
• Trogocytosis of CAR molecule regulates CAR-T cell dysfunction and tumor antigen escape

  2023cited by this paper
• SIGLEC-5/14 Inhibits CD11b/CD18 Integrin Activation and Neutrophil-Mediated Tumor Cell Cytotoxicity

  2023cited by this paper
• Macrophage-mediated trogocytosis contributes to destroying human schistosomes in a non-susceptible rodent host, Microtus fortis

  2023cited by this paper
• slan+ monocytes kill cancer cells coated in therapeutic antibody by trogoptosis.

  2023cited by this paper
• NK cells in peripheral blood carry trogocytosed tumor antigens from solid cancer cells

  2023cited by this paper
• CTLA-4 tail fusion enhances CAR-T antitumor immunity

  2023cited by this paper
• Trogocytosis and cross-dressing in antigen presentation.

  2023cited by this paper
• Dynamics and specificities of T cells in cancer immunotherapy

  2023cited by this paper
• The evolving tumor microenvironment: From cancer initiation to metastatic outgrowth.

  2023cited by this paper
• CD19 CAR antigen engagement mechanisms and affinity tuning

  2023cited by this paper
• Dendritic cells can prime anti-tumor CD8+ T cell responses through major histocompatibility complex cross-dressing.

  2022cited by this paper
• NK-cell trogocytosis of CD19 antigen: a rare B-ALL MRD mimicker

  2022cited by this paper
• KIR-based inhibitory CARs overcome CAR-NK cell trogocytosis-mediated fratricide and tumor escape

  2022cited by this paper
• ATF3 and CH25H regulate effector trogocytosis and anti-tumor activities of endogenous and immunotherapeutic cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

  2022cited by this paper
• Targeting the CD47-SIRPα Innate Immune Checkpoint to Potentiate Antibody Therapy in Cancer by Neutrophils

  2022cited by this paper
• Trogocytosis and fratricide killing impede MSLN-directed CAR T cell functionality

  2022cited by this paper
• Cancer cells resist antibody-mediated destruction by neutrophils through activation of the exocyst complex

  2022cited by this paper
• LPA suppresses T cell function by altering the cytoskeleton and disrupting immune synapse formation

  2022cited by this paper
• Tim-3 mediates T cell trogocytosis to limit antitumor immunity

  2022cited by this paper
• DSP107 combines inhibition of CD47/SIRPα axis with activation of 4-1BB to trigger anticancer immunity

  2022cited by this paper
• CD47-SIRPα Controls ADCC Killing of Primary T Cells by PMN Through a Combination of Trogocytosis and NADPH Oxidase Activation

  2022cited by this paper
• Marginal zone B cells acquire dendritic cell functions by trogocytosis

  2022cited by this paper
• Gnawing Between Cells and Cells in the Immune System: Friend or Foe? A Review of Trogocytosis

  2022cited by this paper
• HLA-G: Too Much or Too Little? Role in Cancer and Autoimmune Disease

  2022cited by this paper
• Roadmap to affinity-tuned antibodies for enhanced chimeric antigen receptor T cell function and selectivity.

  2022cited by this paper
• CAR T cells produced in vivo to treat cardiac injury

  2022cited by this paper
• Low-affinity CAR T cells exhibit reduced trogocytosis, preventing rapid antigen loss, and increasing CAR T cell expansion

  2022cited by this paper
• A guide to antigen processing and presentation

  2022cited by this paper
• CD9, a tetraspanin target for cancer therapy?

  2021cited by this paper
• G-CSF as a suitable alternative to GM-CSF to boost dinutuximab-mediated neutrophil cytotoxicity in neuroblastoma treatment

  2021cited by this paper
• Obstacles and Coping Strategies of CAR-T Cell Immunotherapy in Solid Tumors

  2021cited by this paper
• Phenotypic Models of CAR T-Cell Activation Elucidate the Pivotal Regulatory Role of CAR Downmodulation

  2021cited by this paper
• Galectin-9 Triggers Neutrophil-Mediated Anticancer Immunity

  2021cited by this paper
• Sodium stibogluconate and CD47-SIRPα blockade overcome resistance of anti-CD20–opsonized B cells to neutrophil killing

  2021cited by this paper
• Type I interferon activates MHC class I-dressed CD11b+ conventional dendritic cells to promote protective anti-tumor CD8+ T cell immunity.

  2021cited by this paper
• Hijacking TYRO3 from Tumor Cells via Trogocytosis Enhances NK-cell Effector Functions and Proliferation

  2021cited by this paper
• The relationship between expression of PD-L1 and HIF-1α in glioma cells under hypoxia

  2021cited by this paper
• Cross-dressing of CD8α+ Dendritic Cells with Antigens from Live Mouse Tumor Cells Is a Major Mechanism of Cross-priming

  2020cited by this paper
• PD-L1/L2 protein levels rapidly increase on monocytes via trogocytosis from tumor cells in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

  2020cited by this paper
• Amivantamab (JNJ-61186372), an Fc Enhanced EGFR/cMet Bispecific Antibody, Induces Receptor Downmodulation and Antitumor Activity by Monocyte/Macrophage Trogocytosis

  2020cited by this paper
• Macrophage-Based Approaches for Cancer Immunotherapy

  2020cited by this paper
• High-grade serous ovarian tumor cells modulate NK cell function to create an immune-tolerant microenvironment

  2020cited by this paper
• Dissecting the NK Cell Population in Hematological Cancers Confirms the Presence of Tumor Cells and Their Impact on NK Population Function

  2020cited by this paper
• Kindlin3-Dependent CD11b/CD18-Integrin Activation Is Required for Potentiation of Neutrophil Cytotoxicity by CD47–SIRPα Checkpoint Disruption

  2020cited by this paper
• When killers become thieves: Trogocytosed PD-1 inhibits NK cells in cancer

  2020cited by this paper
• Functional characterization of the selective pan-allele anti-SIRPα antibody ADU-1805 that blocks the SIRPα–CD47 innate immune checkpoint

  2019cited by this paper
• Natural killer group 2D receptor and its ligands in cancer immune escape

  2019cited by this paper
• Human neutrophils express low levels of FcγRIIIA, which plays a role in PMN activation.

  2019cited by this paper
• HER2-targeted therapies — a role beyond breast cancer

  2019cited by this paper
• Escape From ALL-CARTaz

  2019cited by this paper
• CAR T cell trogocytosis and cooperative killing regulate tumour antigen escape

  2019cited by this paper
• Extracellular vesicle-mediated MHC cross-dressing in immune homeostasis, transplantation, infectious diseases, and cancer

  2018cited by this paper
• EVIR: Chimeric receptors that enhance dendritic cell cross-dressing with tumor antigens

  2018cited by this paper
• NK cell activation and recovery of NK cell subsets in lymphoma patients after obinutuzumab and lenalidomide treatment

  2017cited by this paper
• Podocalyxin promotes proliferation and survival in mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma cells

  2017cited by this paper
• Monocytes and Granulocytes Reduce CD38 Expression Levels on Myeloma Cells in Patients Treated with Daratumumab

  2017cited by this paper
• Human neutrophils mediate trogocytosis rather than phagocytosis of CLL B cells opsonized with anti-CD20 antibodies.

  2017cited by this paper
• Microglia remodel synapses by presynaptic trogocytosis and spine head filopodia induction

  2017cited by this paper
• Regulation of PD-L1: a novel role of pro-survival signalling in cancer.

  2016cited by this paper
• Macrophage-Mediated Trogocytosis Leads to Death of Antibody-Opsonized Tumor Cells

  2016cited by this paper
• Signaling and Polarized Communication Across the T Cell Immunological Synapse.

  2016cited by this paper
• Rapid and efficient transfer of the T cell aging marker CD57 from glioblastoma stem cells to CAR T cells

  2015cited by this paper
• Identification of Anti-tumor Cells Carrying Natural Killer (NK) Cell Antigens in Patients With Hematological Cancers

  2015cited by this paper
• Podocalyxin-like protein 1 functions as an immunomodulatory molecule in breast cancer cells.

  2015cited by this paper
• Uptake of CCR7 by KIR2DS4+ NK Cells Is Induced upon Recognition of Certain HLA-C Alleles

  2015cited by this paper
• Human T Cell Crosstalk Is Induced by Tumor Membrane Transfer

  2015cited by this paper
• Interactions between Ibrutinib and Anti-CD20 Antibodies: Competing Effects on the Outcome of Combination Therapy

  2015cited by this paper
• Acquisition of Activation Receptor Ligand by Trogocytosis Renders NK Cells Hyporesponsive

  2015cited by this paper
• Trogocytosis-mediated expression of HER2 on immune cells may be associated with a pathological complete response to trastuzumab-based primary systemic therapy in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer patients

  2015cited by this paper
• Peripheral blood NK cells expressing HLA-G, IL-10 and TGF-β in healthy donors and breast cancer patients.

  2015cited by this paper
• The TAM family: phosphatidylserine-sensing receptor tyrosine kinases gone awry in cancer

  2014cited by this paper
• Membrane Transfer from Tumor Cells Overcomes Deficient Phagocytic Ability of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells for the Acquisition and Presentation of Tumor Antigens

  2014cited by this paper
• Trogocytosis by Entamoeba histolytica contributes to cell killing and tissue invasion

  2014cited by this paper
• Antigen-specific inhibition of high-avidity T cell target lysis by low-avidity T cells via trogocytosis.

  2014cited by this paper
• Apparent CD19 expression by natural killer cells: A potential confounder for minimal residual disease detection by flow cytometry in B lymphoblastic leukemia.

  2014cited by this paper
• Trogocytosis of multiple B-cell surface markers by CD22 targeting with epratuzumab.

  2013cited by this paper
• KIR2DS1-dependent acquisition of CCR7 and migratory properties by human NK cells interacting with allogeneic HLA-C2+ DCs or T-cell blasts.

  2013cited by this paper
• Fratricide of natural killer cells dressed with tumor-derived NKG2D ligand

  2013cited by this paper
• Both activating and inhibitory Fc gamma receptors mediate rituximab-induced trogocytosis of CD20 in mice.

  2012cited by this paper
• Trogocytosis Is a Gateway to Characterize Functional Diversity in Melanoma-Specific CD8+ T Cell Clones

  2012cited by this paper
• CD86+ or HLA-G+ can be transferred via trogocytosis from myeloma cells to T cells and are associated with poor prognosis.

  2012cited by this paper
• Antigen-Specific Transfer of Functional Programmed Death Ligand 1 from Human APCs onto CD8+ T Cells via Trogocytosis

  2012cited by this paper
• Engineering lymph node homing of ex vivo-expanded human natural killer cells via trogocytosis of the chemokine receptor CCR7.

  2012cited by this paper
• Dynamics of Macrophage Trogocytosis of Rituximab-Coated B Cells

  2011cited by this paper
• Loss of CD20 and Bound CD20 Antibody from Opsonized B Cells Occurs More Rapidly Because of Trogocytosis Mediated by Fc Receptor-Expressing Effector Cells Than Direct Internalization by the B Cells

  2011cited by this paper
• Different functional outcomes of intercellular membrane transfers to monocytes and T cells

  2010cited by this paper

• Transcriptomic profiling of co-cultured cancer-host cells identifies hypoxia as a driver of the skeletal muscle cell’s anti-proliferative effect on cancer cells

  2026cites this paper