The role of tumor-associated macrophages in primary hepatocellular carcinoma and its related targeting therapy

Lu Deng^*, Kang He^*, Yixiao Pan, Hai Wang, Yi Luo^✉, Qiang Xia^✉

Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
* Lu Deng and Kang He contributed equally to this article.

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Citation:
Deng L, He K, Pan Y, Wang H, Luo Y, Xia Q. The role of tumor-associated macrophages in primary hepatocellular carcinoma and its related targeting therapy. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18(10):2109-2116. doi:10.7150/ijms.56003. Available from https://www.medsci.org/v18p2109.htm

Abstract

Liver macrophages consist of ontogenically distinct populations termed Kupffer cells and monocyte-derived macrophages. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) inhepatocellularcarcinoma (HCC) play a prominent role in tumormicroenvironment by presenting M1(induced by IFN γ along with LPS) and M2(induced by IL-4 and IL13) polarization. Although TAMs are involved in tumor immune surveillance during the course of HCC, they contribute to tumour progression at different levels by inhibiting the anti-tumor immune response, promoting the generation of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, and supporting the proliferation and survival of tumor cells. In this paper, the multiple functions of TAMs in HCC were reviewed to provide assistance for future researches about therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: Tumor-associated macrophages, hepatocellular carcinoma, therapy