What question did this study set out to answer?

To review the mechanisms underlying tumor-associated macrophage biology, functional plasticity, and spatial heterogeneity, while evaluating therapeutic strategies targeting these cells to overcome therapy resistance.

December 19, 2025Molecular BiomedicineOpen Access

Tumor-associated macrophages in cancer: from mechanisms to application

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Authors

WTWan‐Yee Tang XWXin Wang BHBing Han

Discussion

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Overview

Systematic review demonstrates pro-tumor functions and therapeutic targeting of tumor-associated macrophages in diverse cancers, highlighting synergies with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Key Points

To review the mechanisms underlying tumor-associated macrophage biology, functional plasticity, and spatial heterogeneity, while evaluating therapeutic strategies targeting these cells to overcome therapy resistance.
Synthesized recent findings on tumor-associated macrophage recruitment, phenotypic switching, and signaling pathways across multiple malignancies.
Evaluated single-cell and spatial transcriptomic biomarkers alongside translational approaches, including macrophage depletion, recruitment inhibition, reprogramming, and nanomedicine combinations.
Tumor-associated macrophages predominantly adopt pro-tumorigenic states that stimulate cancer proliferation, drive metastatic invasion, establish immunosuppressive environments, and confer therapeutic resistance.
Therapeutic strategies that deplete, inhibit recruitment of, or repolarize tumor-associated macrophages demonstrate substantial synergy when paired with conventional treatments and immune checkpoint inhibitors to reverse treatment resistance.

Cite This Study

Tang et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69dbde203d9adb00e76856b3 https://doi.org/10.1186/s43556-025-00396-y

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December 19, 2025Molecular BiomedicineOpen Access

Tumor-associated macrophages in cancer: from mechanisms to application

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

WTWan‐Yee Tang XWXin Wang BHBing Han

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Systematic review demonstrates pro-tumor functions and therapeutic targeting of tumor-associated macrophages in diverse cancers, highlighting synergies with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Key Points

To review the mechanisms underlying tumor-associated macrophage biology, functional plasticity, and spatial heterogeneity, while evaluating therapeutic strategies targeting these cells to overcome therapy resistance.
Synthesized recent findings on tumor-associated macrophage recruitment, phenotypic switching, and signaling pathways across multiple malignancies.
Evaluated single-cell and spatial transcriptomic biomarkers alongside translational approaches, including macrophage depletion, recruitment inhibition, reprogramming, and nanomedicine combinations.
Tumor-associated macrophages predominantly adopt pro-tumorigenic states that stimulate cancer proliferation, drive metastatic invasion, establish immunosuppressive environments, and confer therapeutic resistance.
Therapeutic strategies that deplete, inhibit recruitment of, or repolarize tumor-associated macrophages demonstrate substantial synergy when paired with conventional treatments and immune checkpoint inhibitors to reverse treatment resistance.

Cite This Study

Tang et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69dbde203d9adb00e76856b3 https://doi.org/10.1186/s43556-025-00396-y

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