Altering the intratumoral localization of macrophages to inhibit cancer progression

Hypoxia confers to macrophages angiogenic and immunosuppressive properties which promote tumor growth and progression. Preventing the migration of macrophages into hypoxic tumor regions hinders angiogenesis and restores the tumor-suppressive properties of these immune cells. We have recently uncovered a neuropilin 1- and semaphorin 3A-dependent signaling pathway that defines the repositioning of macrophages to hypoxic tumor niches, a discovery that generates new options for the development of complementary anticancer treatments.