Published in:
01-08-2013 | Original Article
Monocytes and Macrophages in Cancer: Development and Functions
Authors:
David M. Richards, Jan Hettinger, Markus Feuerer
Published in:
Cancer Microenvironment
|
Issue 2/2013
Login to get access
Abstract
Monocytes and tumor-associated macrophages are part of the myeloid family, a group of hematopoietic derived cells. Monocytes are direct precursors of hematopoietic stem cell-derived macrophages. After their recruitment into the tumor tissue, they can differentiate into tumor-associated macrophages, a very heterogeneous cell population in terms of phenotype and pro-tumor function, supporting tumor initiation, local progression and distant metastasis. Therefore, targeting monocytes and macrophages is a promising immunotherapeutic approach. This review will focus on the development of monocytes as macrophage precursors, the functions of tumor-associated macrophages and the possibility of interfering with tumor development and progression by targeting these myeloid cells.