Shao S, Miao H and Ma W (2023) Unraveling the enigma of tumor-associated macrophages: challenges, innovations, and the path to therapeutic breakthroughs. Front. Immunol. 14:1295684. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1295684
Shao S, Miao H and Ma W (2023) Unraveling the enigma of tumor-associated macrophages: challenges, innovations, and the path to therapeutic breakthroughs. Front. Immunol. 14:1295684. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1295684
Shao S, Miao H and Ma W (2023) Unraveling the enigma of tumor-associated macrophages: challenges, innovations, and the path to therapeutic breakthroughs. Front. Immunol. 14:1295684. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1295684
Shao S, Miao H and Ma W (2023) Unraveling the enigma of tumor-associated macrophages: challenges, innovations, and the path to therapeutic breakthroughs. Front. Immunol. 14:1295684. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1295684
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play critical roles in the tumor microenvironment (TME), where they are recruited by signals released by cancer cells. Although they have great potential as therapeutic targets for cancer treatment, the dual roles of TAMs in promoting or inhibiting tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis make their function in cancer progression complex. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of TAMs, including their phenotypic diversity, regulatory signaling pathways, and interactions with other cells in the TME. We also discuss the challenges related to the standard isolation protocols of TAMs, inconsistent research results, and translation of TAM knowledge into clinical applications. Additionally, we review the status of clinical trials involving TAMs and potential strategies to overcome the limitations. The future direction of TAM research should focus on developing more targeted therapies that specifically regulate TAM function and non-invasive methods for monitoring TAM activity in cancer patients. A comprehensive understanding of the complex role of TAMs in cancer may lead to the development of more effective treatments and improved outcomes for cancer patients.
Medicine and Pharmacology, Oncology and Oncogenics
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
