Tumor-Associated Macrophage (TAM)

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a major population of immune cells found within the tumor microenvironment of solid tumors. They originate from circulating monocytes that are recruited to the tumor site, where they differentiate under the influence of local signals. TAMs play complex and often contradictory roles in cancer biology, participating in both anti-tumor and pro-tumor activities depending on their activation state and environmental cues. Targeting TAMs represents a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, with approaches focusing on depletion, inhibition of recruitment/differentiation, or reprogramming of TAMs.

Other names

TAMsM1 macrophagesM2 macrophages

Varies depending on the therapeutic strategy: Depletion of TAMs; Inhibition of TAM recruitment/differentiation; Reprogramming of TAM polarization.