Macrophage polarization in tumour progression.
Semin Cancer Biol
; 18(5): 349-55, 2008 Oct.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18467122
ABSTRACT
Macrophages are a fundamental part of the innate defense mechanisms, which can promote specific immunity by inducing T cell recruitment and activation. Despite this, their presence within the tumour microenvironment has been associated with enhanced tumour progression and shown to promote cancer cell growth and spread, angiogenesis and immunosuppression. This paradoxical role of macrophages in cancer finds an explanation in their functional plasticity, that may result in the polarized expression of either pro- or anti-tumoural functions. Key players in the setting of their phenotype are the microenvironmental signals to which macrophages are exposed, which selectively tune their functions within a functional spectrum encompassing the M1 and M2 extremes. Here, we discuss recent findings suggesting that targeting tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) polarization may represent a novel therapeutic strategy against cancer.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Macrófagos
/
Neoplasias
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Semin Cancer Biol
Asunto de la revista:
NEOPLASIAS
Año:
2008
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia