The aim of the present study was to evaluate the current body of knowledge regarding tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and their potential use in antitumor therapy, based on their role in the pathological process of tumorigenesis. For this purpose, a critical analysis of published data and summarization of the findings available from original studies, focusing on the role of TAMs in the pathological process, and their potential therapeutic application was performed. Promising key avenues of research were identified in this field. The following issues seem the most promising and thus worth further investigation: i) The process of M1/M2 macrophage polarization, macrophage characteristics at intermediate polarization steps and their role in the tumor process; ii) determining the conditions necessary for transitions between the M1 and M2 macrophage phenotypes and the role of signals from the microenvironment in this process; iii) cause-and-effect associations between the quantity and quality of macrophages, and the prognosis and outcome of the pathological process; iv) modulation of macrophages and stimulation of their phagocytic activity with drugs; v) targeted vector-based systems for drug delivery to macrophages; and vi) targeted drug delivery systems with macrophages as carriers, thus potentially combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Keywords: M1/M2 polarization; chemotherapy; immunotherapy; macrophages; targeted drug delivery systems; tumor microenvironment; tumor-associated macrophages.
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