A Breakthrough: Macrophage-Directed Cancer Immunotherapy

Successful immunotherapy of cancer is becoming a reality aided by the realization that macrophages play an important role in the growth or regression of tumors. Specifically, M2/repair-type macrophages predominate in human cancers and produce growth-promoting molecules that actively stimulate tumor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Vol. 76; no. 3; pp. 513 - 516
Main Authors Mills, Charles D, Lenz, Laurel L, Harris, Robert A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.02.2016
Subjects
Animals
Humans
Immunotherapy - methods
Macrophages - immunology
Medicin och hälsovetenskap
Neoplasms - immunology
Neoplasms - pathology
Neoplasms - therapy
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Summary:Successful immunotherapy of cancer is becoming a reality aided by the realization that macrophages play an important role in the growth or regression of tumors. Specifically, M2/repair-type macrophages predominate in human cancers and produce growth-promoting molecules that actively stimulate tumor growth in much the same way they help wounds heal. However, modulating M2/repair-type macrophages to M1/kill-type can slow or stop cancer growth. The effects involve direct activity of M1 kill-type as well as the ability of M1-type macrophages to stimulate Th1-type cytotoxic T cells and other effector cells. Macrophage responses can also predict cancer susceptibility; individuals with a high M1/kill to M2/repair ratio are less prone. That macrophages/innate immunity can be modulated to play a central role in directly or indirectly combating cancer is a breakthrough that seems likely to finally make successful immunotherapy of cancer a reality.
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ISSN:0008-5472
1538-7445
1538-7445
DOI:10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-1737