Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2025

Studying the Effects of Tumor-Secreted Paracrine Ligands on Macrophage Activation using Co-Culture with Permeable Membrane Supports
Published on: November 28, 2019
Cancer stem cells and tumor-associated macrophages: Interactions and therapeutic opportunities
Haitao Yuan1, Yun Qiu1, Zijie Mei1
1School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China.
Abstract:
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) depend on the tumor microenvironment (TME) to sustain their stem-like properties by recruiting monocytes and reprogramming them into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which in turn promote tumor progression. This review explores CSC-TAM interactions, emphasizing how CSCs drive monocyte recruitment and TAM polarization. We discuss how TAMs enhance CSC stemness and niche maintenance through chemokines, cytokines, exosome-mediated miRNA transfer, direct interactions, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Furthermore, we examine therapeutic strategies targeting TAMs, including inhibiting TAM differentiation, reprogramming TAM polarization, and leveraging immune checkpoint blockade and CAR-macrophage immunotherapy to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
The Tumor Microenvironment
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Mesenchymal Stem Cells
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,...
Tumor Immunotherapy
Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...

