The Impact of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Found at Mammary Carcinoma Sites is Dependent Upon the Tumor Type.

Background: Previously, we reported that tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) at early sites of mammary carcinoma showed a decrease in ATP production rate and a higher dependence on oxidative phosphorylation.

Methods: Since these changes can result from activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and glucose transporter 1 (Glut1) during metabolic stress, we investigated whether the TAM showed increased expression of and , as well as another indicator of metabolic stress, . Indeed, the TAM exhibited significant expression of , , and .