Abstract

MACROPHAGES AS A KEY FACTOR IN THE PROCESS OF TUMOUR FROM THE INITIATION TO THE THERAPY OF CANCER.

Stephanie Stella Mica Avoulou Meyo, Xianjing Li, Nadia Kabir, Muhammad Sohaila, and Yong Yang*

Abstract

The tumor environment is a complex ecological system made up of cells and serves as support to the tumor cells from their implantation to the state of malignancy. Among all the cells of immunity (innate and adaptive) macrophages are those most present on the site of the tumor, playing a predominant role in all stages where they intensively promote the different aspects of tumor initiation, growth and development. Macrophages are composed of two subpopulations M1 (anti-tumor, responsible of the inflammation response and pathogen clearance) and M2 (pro-tumor and anti-inflammatory activities) both depending of diverse external factors. Clinical studies and experimental models have shown that tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) are more related to the M2, giving a poor clinical prognostic by promoting the growth of the tumor and assessing a favorable microenvironment to the malignancy. Thus, this ability to promote tumor proliferation makes these TAMs a key tool targets for curative cancer solutions via translational approaches, but more research need to be done to ensure a better prognosis.

Keywords: Macrophages M1/M2, tumor associated macrophages, macrophage polarization, Cancer, immunotherapy.