Macrophages Orchestrate the Liver Tumor Microenvironment.

Simple Summary: Liver cancer is a deadly disease, in which hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma are the most common types. Despite numerous advances, treatment options still remain poor for liver cancer patients. Tumor development and progression as well as response to treatment are highly modulated by the cellular and stromal components that together with tumor cells generate the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are one of the principal immune cell components of the liver TME, and they play a crucial role in sustaining tumorigenesis. This review summarizes recent findings on TAM biology, and it analyses the importance of the development of macrophage-targeting strategies for the treatment of liver cancer. Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality. Hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma are the most common types, and despite numerous advances, therapeutic options still remain poor for these cancer patients. Tumor development and progression strictly depend on a supportive tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant immune cells population within a tumorigenic liver; they sustain cancer cells' growth and invasiveness, and their presence is correlated with a poor prognosis. Furthermore, TAM cross-talk with cells and components of the TME promotes immunosuppression, a desmoplastic response, and angiogenesis. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in understanding TAM heterogeneity and function, with a particular focus on TAM modulation of the TME. We also discuss the potential of targeting macrophage subpopulations and how this is now being exploited in current clinical trials for the treatment of liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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