Harnessing the antitumor potential of macrophages for cancer immunotherapy

Macrophages constitute a dominant fraction of the population of immune cells that infiltrate developing tumors. Recruited by tumor-derived signals, tumor-infiltrating macrophages are key orchestrators of a microenvironment that supports tumor progression. However, the phenotype of macrophages is pli...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oncoimmunology 2013-12, Vol.2 (12), p.e26860-e26860
Main Authors: Long, Kristen B, Beatty, Gregory L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
angiogenesis, cancer
fibrosis, macrophage, phagocytosis, tumoricidal
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Summary:Macrophages constitute a dominant fraction of the population of immune cells that infiltrate developing tumors. Recruited by tumor-derived signals, tumor-infiltrating macrophages are key orchestrators of a microenvironment that supports tumor progression. However, the phenotype of macrophages is pliable and, if instructed properly, macrophages can mediate robust antitumor functions through their ability to eliminate malignant cells, inhibit angiogenesis, and deplete fibrosis. While much effort has focused on strategies to block the tumor-supporting activity of macrophages, emerging approaches designed to instruct macrophages with antitumor properties are demonstrating promise and may offer a novel strategy for cancer immunotherapy.
ISSN:2162-4011
2162-402X
2162-402X
DOI:10.4161/onci.26860