Authors: Ashok Chakraborty, Anil Diwan.
Macrophages are abundantly present, approx. 1010 cells, in almost all tissues of humans. They mainly function as phagocytic cells to make the human body disease-free from any eternal pathogens. The main two types of macrophages, M1 and M2 are known, of which M1 macrophages produces toxic NO, citrulline, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and other pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-12, IL- 23. M1 type while known as pro-inflammatory and also for their microbicidal and tumoricidal activities, the other type, M2 macrophages, are found to be antiinflammatory but tumor-promoting, one.
The unique features of M1 and M2 macrophages either as a tumoricidal or as a tumor promoting could be interested as a mechanism of tumor therapy, in future. Here, we review the strategies to exploit macrophages as therapeutic tools and targets in cancer therapy. In particular, the role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in cancer therapy will be focused.
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