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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

In Vitro Assay to Study Tumor-macrophage Interaction
Published on: August 1, 2019
Cancer related inflammation: the macrophage connection
Antonio Sica1, Paola Allavena, Alberto Mantovani
1Fondazione Humanitas per Ricerca, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
Abstract:
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are key regulators of the link between inflammation and cancer. In the tumor microenvironment neoplastic cells shape the differentiation and functional orientation of TAM which, in turn, express several protumoral functions, including secretion of growth factors and matrix-proteases, promotion of angiogenesis and suppression of adaptive immunity. This review analyzes our current knowledge of TAM and their involvement in tumor development and progression. The interplay between TAM and neoplastic cells represents a promising target of future therapeutic approaches.
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