Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) form approximately 50% of tumor mass. TAMs were shown to promote tumor growth by suppressing immunocompetent cells, inducing neovascularization and supporting cancer stem cells. TAMs retain mobility in tumor mass, which can potentially be employed for better intratumoral biodistribution of nanocarriers and effective tumor growth inhibition. Due to the importance of TAMs, they are increasingly becoming principal targets of novel therapeutic approaches. In this review, we compare features of macrophages and TAMs that are essential for TAM-directed therapies, and illustrate the advantages of nanomedicine that are related to the preferential capture of nanocarriers by Mϕ in the process of drug delivery. We discuss recent efforts in reprogramming or inhibiting tumor-protecting properties of TAMs, and potential strategies to increase efficacy of conventional chemotherapy by combining with macrophage-associated delivery of nanodrugs.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.2217/nnm.14.13 | DOI Listing |
J Cancer
January 2025
Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan.
Previous studies revealed that tumor-associated macrophages/microglia (TAMs) promoted glioma invasiveness during tumor progression and after radiotherapy. However, the communication of TAMs with tumor cells remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the role of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from TAMs in TAMs-mediated brain tumor invasion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Transl Med
January 2025
Department of General Surgery of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No.26, Erheng Road, Yuancun, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510655, China.
Purpose: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are pivotal immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME), exhibiting dual roles across various cancer types. Depending on the context, TAMs can either suppress tumor progression and weaken drug sensitivity or facilitate tumor growth and drive therapeutic resistance. This study explores whether targeting TAMs can suppress the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and improve the efficacy of chemotherapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmunol Lett
January 2025
Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Hematology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. Electronic address:
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play crucial roles in development and progression of malignant diseases. Notably, CD163 TAMs likely perform specific pro-tumorigenic functions, suggesting that this subset may serve as both prognostic biomarkers and targets for future anti-cancer therapy. We conducted a scoping review to map the current knowledge on the prognostic role of CD163 TAMs in the five most lethal cancers worldwide: Lung, colorectal, gastric, liver, and breast cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt Immunopharmacol
January 2025
The Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. Electronic address:
Background: Triple-negative breast cancer is a particularly aggressive type of breast cancer that is closely associated with abnormal vascularization within the tumor. However, traditional anti-VEGF therapies and other treatments have limited efficacy. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) induce and regulate tumor angiogenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomaterials
January 2025
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Department of Ultrasound, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 32, West Second Section, First Ring Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China. Electronic address:
Incomplete radiofrequency ablation (iRFA) not only leaves residual tumor, but also render the residual tumor highly self-adaptable and immunosuppressive, consequently expediting residual tumor progression including relapse. To address it, radiofrequency dynamic therapy (RFDT) with identical trigger (namely radiofrequency) has been established and enabled by polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified Fe-based single atom nanozyme (P@Fe SAZ). P@Fe SAZ can respond to radiofrequency field to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), attaining the nanomedicine-unlocked low-temperature RFDT.
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