Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2025

In Vitro Assay to Study Tumor-macrophage Interaction
Published on: August 1, 2019
Linking macrophage metabolism to function in the tumor microenvironment
Robbie Jin1,2, Luke Neufeld1,2, Tracy L McGaha3,4
1Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
Macrophages are present at high frequency in most solid tumor types, and their relative abundance negatively correlates with therapy responses and survival outcomes. Tissue-resident macrophages are highly tuned to integrate tissue niche signals, and multiple factors within the idiosyncratic tumor microenvironment (TME) drive macrophages to polarization states that favor immune suppression, tumor growth and metastasis. These diverse functional states are underpinned by extensive and complex rewiring of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) metabolism. In this Review, we link distinct and specific macrophage functional states within the TME to major, phenotype-sustaining metabolic programs and discuss the metabolic impact of macrophage-modulating therapeutic interventions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Tumor Microenvironment
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...

