Targeting M2-like tumor-associated macrophages is a potential therapeutic approach to overcome antitumor drug resistance

作者：Shujing Wang, Jingrui Wang, Zhiqiang Chen, Jiamin Luo, Wei Guo, Lingling Sun, Lizhu Lin · 发表于：npj Precision Oncology · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1038/s41698-024-00522-z · 被引用次数：531 · 研究领域：Immune cells in cancer、Epigenetics and DNA Methylation、Phagocytosis and Immune Regulation

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.