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REVIEW article

Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Pharmacology of Anti-Cancer Drugs
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1404687
This article is part of the Research Topic Exploring Immunotherapy Targets and Strategies for Cancer: A Multi-Omics Perspective View all 5 articles

Unveiling the Contribution of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Driving Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition: A Review of Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies 1

Provisionally accepted
Yijia Zhang Yijia Zhang 1,2,3Xiaofei Ding Xiaofei Ding 1Xue Zhang Xue Zhang 3Ye Li Ye Li 3Rui Xu Rui Xu 3Hai-Jun Li Hai-Jun Li 2Daiying Zuo Daiying Zuo 3*Guang Chen Guang Chen 1,2*
  • 1 Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China
  • 2 Taizhou Second People's Hospital, Taizhou, China
  • 3 Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), fundamental constituents of the tumor microenvironment (TME), significantly influence cancer development, primarily by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT endows cancer cells with increased motility, invasiveness, and resistance to therapies, marking a pivotal juncture in cancer progression. The review begins with a detailed exposition on the origins of TAMs and their functional heterogeneity, providing a foundational understanding of TAM characteristics. Next, it delves into the specific molecular mechanisms through which TAMs induce EMT, including cytokines, chemokines and stromal cross-talking. Following this, the review explores TAM-induced EMT features in select cancer types with notable EMT characteristics, highlighting recent insights and the impact of TAMs on cancer progression. Finally, the review concludes with a discussion of potential therapeutic targets and strategies aimed at mitigating TAM infiltration and disrupting the EMT signaling network, thereby underscoring the potential of emerging treatments to combat TAMmediated EMT in cancer. This comprehensive analysis reaffirms the necessity for continued exploration into TAMs' regulatory roles within cancer biology to refine therapeutic approaches and improve patient outcomes.

    Keywords: TAM, Tumor Associated Macrophage, TME, tumor microenvironment, EMT, epithelialmesenchymal transition, ECM, extracellular matrix, CSF1R, colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor

    Received: 21 Mar 2024; Accepted: 15 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zhang, Ding, Zhang, Li, Xu, Li, Zuo and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Daiying Zuo, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, Liaoning Province, China
    Guang Chen, Taizhou University, Taizhou, 317000, Zhejiang Province, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.