Targeting M2-like tumor-associated macrophages is a potential therapeutic approach to overcome antitumor drug resistance.
- 2024-02-10
- NPJ precision oncology 8(1)
- Shujing Wang
- Jingrui Wang
- Zhiqiang Chen
- Jiamin Luo
- Wei Guo
- Lingling Sun
- Lizhu Lin
- PubMed: 38341519
- DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00522-z
Study Design
- Type
- Review
- Highly Cited
Tumor drug resistance emerges from the interaction of two critical factors: tumor cellular heterogeneity and the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute essential components of the TME. M2-like TAMs are essential in facilitating tumor metastasis as well as augmenting the drug resistance of tumors. This review encapsulates the mechanisms that M2-like TAMs use to promote tumor drug resistance. We also describe the emerging therapeutic strategies that are currently targeting M2-like TAMs in combination with other antitumor drugs, with some still undergoing clinical trial evaluation. Furthermore, we summarize and analyze various existing approaches for developing novel drugs that target M2-like TAMs to overcome tumor resistance, highlighting how targeting M2-like TAMs can effectively stop tumor growth, metastasis, and overcome tumor drug resistance.