Redirecting macrophage function to sustain their defender'' antitumor activity

Macrophages are multi-functional innate immune cells that occupy normal or pathologic tissues, including cancer tissues. The importance of macrophage ontogeny and the transcriptional networks underlying their functional diversity are underappreciated in immuno-oncology. Here, we discuss the implications of these fundamental characteristics for therapeutically reprogramming macrophages to sustain their tumoricidal activities.

Automated summary

Macrophages are multi-functional immune cells that are present in normal or pathological tissues, including cancer tissues, but their ontogeny and transcriptional networks are often overlooked in immuno-oncology. Reprogramming macrophages therapeutically to maintain their tumoricidal activities could be crucial in cancer treatment.