Tumor-associated macrophages: from mechanisms to therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Cancer Biology

Background:

• The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex ecosystem supporting tumor growth and malignancy.
• Macrophages are key immune cells within the TME, present throughout all stages of tumor progression.
• These macrophages often adopt protumoral functions, influencing cancer development and spread.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the multifaceted roles of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment.
• To highlight the protumoral functions of macrophages in cancer progression and metastasis.
• To assess the therapeutic potential of targeting macrophages in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical studies and experimental mouse models.
• Analysis of macrophage functions in primary tumors and metastatic sites.
• Evaluation of preclinical and early clinical trial data on macrophage-targeted therapies.

Main Results:

• Macrophages stimulate angiogenesis, invasion, motility, and intravasation in primary tumors.
• Macrophages facilitate premetastatic niche formation, extravasation, and metastatic growth.
• Macrophages exert immunosuppressive effects, hindering natural killer and T-cell responses.

Conclusions:

• Macrophages play a significant protumoral role throughout cancer progression.
• Targeting macrophage-driven protumoral functions is a promising strategy for cancer therapy.
• Macrophages represent attractive targets for combination therapy in cancer treatment.