Tumor-associated macrophages in lung carcinoma: From mechanism to therapy

Xueying Wang; Yining Wu; Jiahui Gu; Jian Xu

doi:10.1016/j.prp.2021.153747

Tumor-associated macrophages in lung carcinoma: From mechanism to therapy

Pathol Res Pract. 2022 Jan:229:153747. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153747. Epub 2021 Dec 18.

Authors

Xueying Wang¹, Yining Wu¹, Jiahui Gu¹, Jian Xu²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
² Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China; National Key Clinical Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China. Electronic address: xu_jian79@163.com.

PMID: 34952424
DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153747

Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which could be classified into the classical (M1-like) and alternatively activated (M2-like) phenotype, were considered to be important tumor-promoting components in lung cancer microenvironment. Several studies reported that TAMs in lung tumor islet or stroma are usually correlated with poor prognosis. Further studies showed that TAMs could promote the initiation of tumor cells, inhibit antitumor immune responses, and stimulate tumor angiogenesis and subsequently tumor metastasis of lung carcinoma. Currently, TAMs have been considered as penitential targets of lung cancer. This review summarizes from the fundamental information of TAMs to the its role in metastasis and present evidence for TAMs as a potential target of cancer therapy.

Keywords: Lung carcinoma; TAM-targeted treatment; Tumor microenvironment (TME); Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs).

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
Tumor-Associated Macrophages*