About this Research Topic
Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) are important components in the tumor microenvironment and are mainly divided into two subtypes: classical activated M1 (anti-tumor) macrophages and alternative activated M2 (pro-tumor) macrophages, although higher complexity of TAMs has been shown by single cell sequencing approaches recently. In many kinds of cancers, TAMs are mainly M2-type, which interact with tumor cells to promote tumor proliferation, EMT, CSCs, angiogenesis and induce tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Increasing evidence suggests that TAMs could interact with tumor cells and other immune cells to induce immunosuppressive environment, contributing toaugmenting tumorigenesis.Tumor cells in turn release various chemokines to attract macrophages and induce the production of M2 TAMs, as well as other inhibitory inflammatory cells. Thus, the interplay between tumor cells and macrophages in tumor microenvironment greatly influences the tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover, TAMs are expected to become an important target in clinical treatments. Although the importance of TAMs is becoming recognized, more advanced research is needed to help us gain a broader understanding of the crosstalking of tumor cells and TAMs and their role in tumorigenesis.
This Research Topic aims at providing insights on the interplay of tumor cells and TAMs and their role in tumorigenesis, thus helping identify the required knowledge and therapies for advancing the management of reprogramming TAMs to treat cancer.
We welcome Original Research articles and Reviews on the themes below:
1. The origin, polarization, and reprogramming of TAMs
2. Identification of novel subsets of TAMs and investigation of their phenotypes and corresponding biomarkers
3. The influences and education of tumor cells on TAMs
4. TAMs interacting with tumor cells in TME to enhance immune evasion and tumorigenesis
5. Anti-cancer therapies targeting TAMs alone or in combination with other standard therapies
This Research Topic aims at providing insights on the interplay of tumor cells and TAMs and their role in tumorigenesis, thus helping identify the required knowledge and therapies for advancing the management of reprogramming TAMs to treat cancer.
We welcome Original Research articles and Reviews on the themes below:
1. The origin, polarization, and reprogramming of TAMs
2. Identification of novel subsets of TAMs and investigation of their phenotypes and corresponding biomarkers
3. The influences and education of tumor cells on TAMs
4. TAMs interacting with tumor cells in TME to enhance immune evasion and tumorigenesis
5. Anti-cancer therapies targeting TAMs alone or in combination with other standard therapies
Keywords: Tumor-associated macrophages, phagocytosis, reprogramming of macrophages, tumor microenvironment
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
