title: The inflammatory microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: a pivotal role for tumor-associated macrophages.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and aggressive human cancers worldwide. HCC is an example of inflammation-related cancer and represents a paradigm of the relation occurring between tumor microenvironment and tumor development. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a major component of leukocyte infiltrate of tumors and play a pivotal role in tumor progression of inflammation-related cancer, including HCC. Several studies indicate that, in the tumor microenvironment, TAMs acquire an M2-polarized phenotype and promote angiogenesis, metastasis, and suppression of adaptive immunity through the expression of cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and matrix metalloproteases. Indeed, an established M2 macrophage population has been associated with poor prognosis in HCC. The molecular links that connect cancer cells and TAMs are not completely known, but recent studies have demonstrated that NF-κB, STAT-3, and HIF-1 signaling pathways play key roles in this crosstalk. In this paper, we discuss the current knowledge about the role of TAMs in HCC development, highlighting the role of TAM-derived cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in the initiation and progression of liver cancer and outlining the signaling pathways involved in the interplay between cancer cells and TAMs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capece
authors.forename: Mariafausta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fischietti
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verzella
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaggiano
authors.forename: Germana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cicciarelli
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tessitore
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zazzeroni
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alesse
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016328:NF-kappa B