Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

In Vitro Assay to Study Tumor-macrophage Interaction
08:36

In Vitro Assay to Study Tumor-macrophage Interaction

Published on: August 1, 2019

MicroRNA-mediated control of macrophages and its implications for cancer

Mario Leonardo Squadrito1, Martin Etzrodt, Michele De Palma

  • 1The Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Trends in Immunology
|March 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key in cancer progression. This review explores how targeting miRNAs in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) could offer new cancer treatment strategies by controlling tumor growth and spread.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • MicroRNA (miRNA) deregulation drives cancer development, progression, and metastasis within cancer cells.
  • Solid tumors contain non-neoplastic stromal cells, notably tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which express active miRNAs.
  • TAMs promote tumor angiogenesis, immunosuppression, invasion, and metastasis, ultimately reducing patient survival.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the critical role of specific miRNAs (e.g., miR-155, miR-146, miR-511) in regulating macrophage production and activation.
  • To investigate the potential of reprogramming miRNA activity in TAMs and their precursors as a therapeutic strategy against cancer progression.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on miRNA function in cancer and macrophages.
  • Analysis of the impact of specific miRNAs on macrophage biology within the tumor microenvironment.
  • Examination of preclinical and clinical data regarding miRNA-targeted therapies in cancer.

Main Results:

  • Certain miRNAs are integral to the control of macrophage differentiation and activation states.
  • miRNA dysregulation in TAMs contributes significantly to the pro-tumorigenic functions of the tumor microenvironment.
  • Targeting specific miRNAs in TAMs shows promise in preclinical models for inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • miRNAs play a dual role in cancer, both within neoplastic cells and in the tumor microenvironment via TAMs.
  • Modulating miRNA activity in TAMs represents a promising, yet underexplored, therapeutic avenue for cancer treatment.
  • Further research into miRNA-based strategies targeting TAMs is warranted to develop novel anti-cancer therapies.

More Related Videos

Studying the Role of Alveolar Macrophages in Breast Cancer Metastasis07:47

Studying the Role of Alveolar Macrophages in Breast Cancer Metastasis

Published on: June 26, 2016

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR 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...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The 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...