MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Tumor-associated macrophages in tumor progression and the role of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating TAMs to enhance antitumor effects

Summary

This review explains how tumor-associated macrophages (immune cells) can either fight or help cancer depending on their type. Traditional Chinese Medicine contains compounds that can reprogram these macrophages to fight cancer more effectively. By shifting macrophages from a cancer-supporting state to a cancer-fighting state, TCM treatments could enhance the body’s natural ability to combat tumors and reduce side effects of conventional cancer therapies.

Background

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are critical components of the tumor microenvironment that undergo M1-like or M2-like activation. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has demonstrated potential as an adjunctive antitumor therapy through immunomodulatory mechanisms.

Objective

This review emphasizes the importance of TAMs in tumor immunity and describes how extracts from TCM achieve tumor therapy by modulating macrophage activation and polarization. The goal is to build a foundation for future research on antitumor therapeutics combining these two approaches.

Results

TAMs contribute to tumor progression, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and immunosuppressive microenvironment. TCM components including polysaccharides, alkaloids, and glycosides can shift macrophage phenotype from M2 (tumor-promoting) to M1 (tumor-suppressing) and enhance antitumor immunity.

Conclusion

TAMs play indispensable roles in antitumor immunity, and TCM serves as an immunomodulatory modifier capable of reprogramming TAMs and transforming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment into an antitumor one. TCM represents a promising adjunctive therapy for cancer treatment.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Immunology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMC9611775; PMID: 36311793; DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1026898
Scroll to Top