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Tumor-associated macrophages: effectors of angiogenesis and tumor progression

Seth B Coffelt1, Russell Hughes, Claire E Lewis

  • 1Academic Unit of Pathology, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|March 10, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This review explores TAM recruitment, functions, and therapeutic strategies targeting these cells or using them for cancer gene therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are key inflammatory cells in tumors.
  • TAMs express tumor-promoting factors and drive angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, immunosuppression, and metastasis.
  • These cells are found in both perivascular and hypoxic tumor regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review monocyte recruitment mechanisms into tumors.
  • To summarize TAM functions and the tumor microenvironment's influence.
  • To discuss therapeutic strategies involving TAMs.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on TAMs.
  • Analysis of TAMs in human tumor biopsies.
  • Examination of evidence from transgenic murine tumor models.

Main Results:

  • TAMs are crucial for tumor progression.
  • The tumor microenvironment shapes TAM activities.
  • TAMs can be targeted or utilized for gene therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding TAMs is vital for cancer therapy.
  • Targeting TAMs offers potential anti-cancer strategies.
  • Exploiting TAMs for gene delivery is an emerging approach.

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