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Tumour-associated macrophages as a prototypic type II polarised phagocyte population: role in tumour progression
Alberto Mantovani1, Paola Allavena, Antonio Sica
1Instituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via Eritrea 62, 20157 Milan, Italy. mantovani@marionegri.it
Abstract:
Macrophages are versatile, plastic cells which respond to micro-environmental signals with distinct functional programmes. In the tumour microenvironment, tumour-associated macrophages (TAM) polarise towards a type II phenotype, oriented to the promotion of tissue remodelling and repair. As polarised type II macrophages, TAM are a key component of the inflammatory circuits that promote tumour progression.
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