Advance of nano anticancer therapies targeted on tumor-associated macrophages

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are a large part of solid tumors and are an essential part of the tumor microenvironment, which can promote tumor growth, stimulate angiogenesis, and inhibit the immune response. The use of TAM as a therapeutic target to achieve the rational distribution of carriers in tumors and effectively inhibit tumors is the critical research direction of precise treatment pharmaceuticals. Therefore, it is imperative to realize the specific role of TAM in immune escape, which may also help to evaluate targeted TAM in the clinic. This article reviews how TAM can instigate different immune cells to participate in tumorigenesis and affect macrophage polarization factors. Meanwhile, the action of different nano-drug targeting TAMs and the relevant clinical trials currently underway have also been reviewed, which may offer promising platforms for the effective treatment of multiple clinical immune targets of tumors. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) play a crucial role in promoting tumor growth, stimulating angiogenesis, and inhibiting the immune response. Understanding the specific role of TAM in immune escape is essential for evaluating targeted TAM therapies in the clinic. This article reviews how TAM can influence different immune cells, macrophage polarization, and the use of nano-drugs targeting TAMs, providing promising platforms for the effective treatment of various clinical immune targets in tumors.