title: Monocytes and macrophages in cancer: development and functions.
abstract: Monocytes and tumor-associated macrophages are part of the myeloid family, a group of hematopoietic derived cells. Monocytes are direct precursors of hematopoietic stem cell-derived macrophages. After their recruitment into the tumor tissue, they can differentiate into tumor-associated macrophages, a very heterogeneous cell population in terms of phenotype and pro-tumor function, supporting tumor initiation, local progression and distant metastasis. Therefore, targeting monocytes and macrophages is a promising immunotherapeutic approach. This review will focus on the development of monocytes as macrophage precursors, the functions of tumor-associated macrophages and the possibility of interfering with tumor development and progression by targeting these myeloid cells.
authors.affiliation: Immune Tolerance, Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hettinger
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feuerer