Journal
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
Volume 10, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00188
Keywords
macrophages; tumors; tumor-associated macrophages; immunity; immunity therapy
Categories
Funding
- National Major Scientific and Technological Special Project for Significant New Drugs Development [2018ZX09201018-013]
- Excellent Young Scientist Foundation of Sichuan University [2017SCU04A16]
- Innovative Spark Foundation of Sichuan University [2018SCUH0032]
- National Key Research Program of China [2017YFC0840100, 2017YFC0840107]
- Sichuan University Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates [C2018101921]
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Macrophages, which have functions of engulfing and digesting foreign substances, can clear away harmful matter, including cellular debris and tumor cells. Based on the condition of the internal environment, circulating monocytes give rise to mature macrophages, and when they are recruited into the tumor microenvironment and in suitable conditions, they are converted into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Generally, macrophages grow into two main groups called classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternatively activated macrophages (M2). M2 and a small fraction of M1 cells, also known as TAMs, not only lack the function of phagocytizing tumor cells but also help these tumor cells escape from being killed and help them spread to other tissues and organs. In this review, we introduce several mechanisms by which macrophages play a role in the immune regulation of tumor cells, including both killing factors and promoting effects. Furthermore, the targeted therapy for treating tumors based on macrophages is also referred to in our review. We confirm that further studies of macrophage-focused therapeutic strategies and their use in clinical practice are needed to verify their superior efficacy and potential in cancer treatment.
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