Leveraging Macrophage Metabolic Reprogramming for Enhanced Anti-Tumor Immunity

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are central regulators of the tumor microenvironment (TME), with their metabolic states critically influencing tumor progression or regression. Although reprogramming TAM metabolism is a promising therapeutic avenue, clinical translation remains challenging due to the oversimplified understanding of macrophage plasticity. To bridge these gaps, we first provide an in-depth analysis of the metabolic signatures and functional heterogeneity of TAMs, highlighting key pathways-glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and amino acid metabolism-that govern TAM functional diversity. Building on this foundation, we offer a comprehensive overview of current therapeutic strategies targeting critical metabolic regulatory nodes in TAMs and explore future directions for their clinical translation. Ultimately, we propose that precisely modulating the metabolic networks of TAMs can effectively reprogram their immunosuppressive functions, thereby opening new avenues for advancing cancer immunotherapy.