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Originally published online as doi:10.1189/jlb.0609385 on September 9, 2009

Published online before print September 9, 2009
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(Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 2009;86:1065-1073.)
© 2009 Society for Leukocyte Biology

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) as major players of the cancer-related inflammation

G. Solinas*, G. Germano*, A. Mantovani*,{dagger} and P. Allavena*,1

* Department of Immunology and Inflammation, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; and
{dagger} Department of Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

1. Correspondence: Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano (MI), Italy. E-mail: paola.allavena{at}humanitas.it

The microenvironment of solid tumors is characterized by a reactive stroma with an abundance of inflammatory mediators and leukocytes, dysregulated vessels and proteolytic enzymes. TAM, major players in the connection between inflammation and cancer, summarize a number of functions (e.g., promotion of tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis, incessant matrix turnover, repression of adaptive immunity), which ultimately have an important impact on disease progression. Thus, together with other myeloid-related cells present at the tumor site (Tie2 macrophages and MDSCs), TAM represent an attractive target of novel biological therapies of tumors.

Key Words: microenvironment • metastasis • angiogenesis • myeloid cells