title: Cancer-promoting tumor-associated macrophages: new vistas and open questions.
abstract: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are key components of the tumor macroenvironment. Cancer- and host cell-derived signals generally drive the functions of TAMs towards an M2-like polarized, tumor-propelling mode; however, when appropriately re-educated. TAMs also have the potential to elicit tumor destructive reactions. Here, we discuss recent advances regarding the immunobiology of TAMs and highlight open questions including the mechanisms of their accumulation (recruitment versus proliferation), their diversity and how to best therapeutically target these cells.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS and Dept. Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Rozzano, Italy. alberto.mantovani@humanitasresearch.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Germano
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marchesi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: Subhra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Biswas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000639:trends; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines