Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 20, 2025

Macrophage Differentiation and Polarization into an M2-Like Phenotype using a Human Monocyte-Like THP-1 Leukemia Cell Line
06:38

Macrophage Differentiation and Polarization into an M2-Like Phenotype using a Human Monocyte-Like THP-1 Leukemia Cell Line

Published on: August 2, 2021

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Cellular Carcinogenesis: Role of Polarized Macrophages in Cancer Initiation

Ram Babu Undi1,2, Adrian Filiberti1,2, Naushad Ali2,3

  • 1Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.

Cancers
|June 10, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Macrophages drive cancer initiation in chronic inflammation, parainflammation, and inflammaging. Targeting macrophage polarization offers novel cancer prevention strategies by modulating these key immune cells.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Inflammation is a critical hallmark of cancer development.
  • Macrophages are central innate immune cells involved in chronic inflammation, parainflammation, and inflammaging.
  • Parainflammation and inflammaging involve immune dysregulation contributing to cancer initiation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence on polarized macrophages as endogenous carcinogens in chronic inflammation, parainflammation, and inflammaging.
  • To discuss emerging cancer prevention strategies targeting macrophage function.

Main Methods:

  • Review of pre-clinical and clinical evidence.
  • Analysis of macrophage polarization in inflammatory contexts.
  • Discussion of therapeutic strategies targeting macrophages.

Main Results:

  • Chronic macrophage polarization promotes cancer initiation via proinflammatory mediators and genotoxins.
  • Evidence supports macrophages acting as endogenous carcinogens in specific inflammatory conditions.
  • Targeting macrophage phenotype presents potential for cancer prevention.

Conclusions:

  • Immune dysregulation and macrophage polarization are key drivers of cancer in chronic inflammatory states.
  • Modulating macrophage function represents a promising avenue for cancer prevention strategies.
Keywords:
DNA damagecarcinogenesisinflammagingmacrophage activationmacrophage modulationmutationparainflammation

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