Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Studying the Effects of Tumor-Secreted Paracrine Ligands on Macrophage Activation using Co-Culture with Permeable Membrane Supports
Published on: November 28, 2019
Immunity and Beyond: Emerging Roles of Monocytes and Macrophages in Cancer
Ana Tomás1,2, Marta Pojo3
1Unidade de Investigação em Patobiologia Molecular (UIPM), Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil, Lisboa, Portugal.
Abstract:
Monocytes and macrophages are key regulators of cancer progression, exhibiting remarkable plasticity. Classically involved in initiating pro-inflammatory responses against tumors, these cells can be co-opted by the tumor microenvironment to adopt immunosuppressive, pro-tumoral phenotypes. Beyond immune modulation, monocytes and macrophages also contribute to cancer progression by promoting angiogenesis, establishing metastatic niches, reactivating dormant tumor cells, and modulating tumor behavior through metabolic and epigenetic mechanisms. Here, we review the diverse and dynamic functions of monocytes and macrophages in cancer, and explore therapeutic approaches aimed at harnessing or redirecting their activity.
Related Concept Videos
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...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses
Cells of the Innate Immune Response
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells
The Tumor Microenvironment