Scavenger receptors constitute a large family of evolutionally conserved
protein molecules that are structurally and functionally diverse. Although
scavenger receptors were originally identified based on their capacity to scavenge modified
lipoproteins, these molecules have been shown to recognize and bind to a broad spectrum of
ligands, including modified and unmodified host-derived molecules or microbial components. As a major subset of innate
pattern recognition receptors,
scavenger receptors are mainly expressed on myeloid cells and function in a wide range of biological processes, such as endocytosis, adhesion,
lipid transport, antigen presentation, and pathogen clearance. In addition to playing a crucial role in maintenance of host homeostasis,
scavenger receptors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases, e.g.,
atherosclerosis, neurodegeneration, or metabolic disorders. Emerging evidence has begun to reveal these receptor molecules as important regulators of
tumor behavior and host immune responses to
cancer. This review summarizes our current understanding on the newly identified, distinct functions of
scavenger receptors in
cancer biology and immunology. The potential of
scavenger receptors as diagnostic
biomarkers and novel targets for therapeutic interventions to treat
malignancies is also highlighted.