title: Altered macrophage differentiation and immune dysfunction in tumor development.
abstract: Tumors require a constant influx of myelomonocytic cells to support the angiogenesis and stroma remodeling needed for their growth. This is mediated by tumor-derived factors, which cause sustained myelopoiesis and the accumulation and functional differentiation of myelomonocytic cells, most of which are macrophages, at the tumor site. An important side effect of the accumulation and functional differentiation of these cells is that they can induce lymphocyte dysfunction. A complete understanding of the complex interplay between neoplastic and myelomonocytic cells might offer novel targets for therapeutic intervention aimed at depriving tumor cells of important growth support and enhancing the antitumor immune response.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rozzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sica
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bronte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy