Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
08:36
In Vitro Assay to Study Tumor-macrophage Interaction
Published on: August 1, 2019
Role of macrophages in malignancy
Rishikesh C Dandekar1, Amaar V Kingaonkar, Gauri S Dhabekar
1Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, M. A. Rangoonwala's College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Azam Campus, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Annals of Maxillofacial Surgery
|March 14, 2013
Summary
Macrophages are immune cells crucial for body defense. In tumors, however, tumor-associated macrophages promote cancer growth and blood vessel formation instead of fighting disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Macrophages are diverse immune cells critical for host defense against pathogens.
- They exert functions via phagocytosis and secretion of soluble factors like cytokines and chemokines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional polarization of macrophages within neoplastic tissues.
- To understand how tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) influence tumor progression.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of macrophage heterogeneity in tumor microenvironments.
- Assessment of TAMs' role in immune function versus tumor support.
Main Results:
- Macrophages exhibit heterogeneity, with distinct functions.
- Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) display altered polarization within neoplastic tissues.
- TAMs predominantly support tumor growth and angiogenesis, rather than immune defense.
Conclusions:
- Macrophage polarization is context-dependent, significantly differing in tumor settings.
- TAMs represent a critical component of the tumor microenvironment that promotes malignancy.
- Targeting TAMs may offer a therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes
Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
01:40Cell-mediated Immune Responses
Overview
01:28Cells of the Innate Immune Response
The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...