Monocytes and Macrophages in Cancer: Unsuspected Roles

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
Sofia Gouveia-Fernandes

Abstract

The behavior of cancer is undoubtedly affected by stroma. Macrophages belong to this microenvironment and their presence correlates with reduced survival in most cancers. After a tumor-induced "immunoediting", these monocytes/macrophages, originally the first line of defense against tumor cells, undergo a phenotypic switch and become tumor-supportive and immunosuppressive.The influence of these tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) on cancer is present in all traits of carcinogenesis. These cells participate in tumor initiation and growth, migration, vascularization, invasion and metastasis. Although metastasis is extremely clinically relevant, this step is always reliant on the angiogenic ability of tumors. Therefore, the formation of new blood vessels in tumors assumes particular importance as a limiting step for disease progression.Herein, the once unsuspected roles of macrophages in cancer will be discussed and their importance as a promising strategy to treat this group of diseases will be reminded.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Cell Migration in Cancer and Metastasis

Migration of cancer cells into surrounding tissue and the vasculature is an initial step in tumor metastasis. Discover the latest research on cell migration in cancer and metastasis here.

Cell Migration

Cell migration is involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes such as embryonic development, cancer metastasis, blood vessel formation and remoulding, tissue regeneration, immune surveillance and inflammation. Here is the latest research.

Related Papers

Clinical & Translational Oncology : Official Publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico
W HuC Wu
Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
Hui-hui ChenLing Ding
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved