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Anti‐tumour strategies aiming to target tumour‐associated macrophages
Author(s) -
Tang Xiaoqiang,
Mo Chunfen,
Wang Yongsheng,
Wei Dandan,
Xiao Hengyi
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/imm.12023
Subject(s) - cancer research , medicine , cancer , population , macrophage , targeted therapy , pharmacology , immunology , oncology , biology , in vitro , biochemistry , environmental health
Summary Tumour‐associated macrophages ( TAM s) represent a predominant population of inflammatory cells that present in solid tumours. TAM s are mostly characterized as alternatively activated M2‐like macrophages and are known to orchestrate nearly all stages of tumour progression. Experimental investigations indicate that TAM s contribute to drug‐resistance and radio‐protective effects, and clinical evidence shows that an elevated number of TAM s and their M2 profile are correlated with therapy failure and poor prognosis in cancer patients. Recently, many studies on TAM ‐targeted strategies have made significant progress and some pilot works have achieved encouraging results. Among these, connections between some anti‐tumour drugs and their influence on TAM s have been suggested. In this review, we will summarize recent advances in TAM ‐targeted strategies for tumour therapy. Based on the proposed mechanisms, those strategies are grouped into four categories: (i) inhibiting macrophage recruitment; (ii) suppressing TAM survival; (iii) enhancing M1‐like tumoricidal activity of TAM s; (iv) blocking M2‐like tumour‐promoting activity of TAM s. It is desired that further attention be drawn to this research field and more effort be made to promote TAM ‐targeted tumour therapy.