title: Impact of tumour associated macrophages in pancreatic cancer.
abstract: During cancer progression, bone marrow derived myeloid cells, including immature myeloid cells and macrophages, progressively accumulate at the primary tumour site where they contribute to the establishment of a tumour promoting microenvironment. A marked infiltration of macrophages into the stromal compartment and the generation of a desmoplastic stromal reaction is a particular characteristic of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and is thought to play a key role in disease progression and its response to therapy. Tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) foster PDA tumour progression by promoting angiogenesis, metastasis, and by suppressing an anti-tumourigenic immune response. Recent work also suggests that TAMs contribute to resistance to chemotherapy and to the emergence of cancer stem-like cells. Here we will review the current understanding of the biology and the pro-tumourigenic functions of TAMs in cancer and specifically in PDA, and highlight potential therapeutic strategies to target TAMs and to improve current therapies for pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Cancer Research UK Centre, Liverpool L7 8XP, UK.
authors.forename: Ainhoa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mielgo
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Schmid
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment