Frontiers in Immunology (Dec 2023)

The role of macrophages in gastric cancer

  • Jiaqing Zhang,
  • Jiaqing Zhang,
  • Can Hu,
  • Can Hu,
  • Can Hu,
  • Ruolan Zhang,
  • Ruolan Zhang,
  • Jingli Xu,
  • Jingli Xu,
  • Yanqiang Zhang,
  • Yanqiang Zhang,
  • Yanqiang Zhang,
  • Li Yuan,
  • Li Yuan,
  • Li Yuan,
  • Shengjie Zhang,
  • Shengjie Zhang,
  • Shengjie Zhang,
  • Siwei Pan,
  • Siwei Pan,
  • Siwei Pan,
  • Mengxuan Cao,
  • Mengxuan Cao,
  • Mengxuan Cao,
  • Jiangjiang Qin,
  • Jiangjiang Qin,
  • Jiangjiang Qin,
  • Xiangdong Cheng,
  • Xiangdong Cheng,
  • Xiangdong Cheng,
  • Zhiyuan Xu,
  • Zhiyuan Xu,
  • Zhiyuan Xu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1282176
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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As one of the deadliest cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, there has been limited improvement in long-term survival rates for gastric cancer (GC) in recent decades. The poor prognosis is attributed to difficulties in early detection, minimal opportunity for radical resection and resistance to chemotherapy and radiation. Macrophages are among the most abundant infiltrating immune cells in the GC stroma. These cells engage in crosstalk with cancer cells, adipocytes and other stromal cells to regulate metabolic, inflammatory and immune status, generating an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME) and ultimately promoting tumour initiation and progression. In this review, we summarise recent advances in our understanding of the origin of macrophages and their types and polarisation in cancer and provide an overview of the role of macrophages in GC carcinogenesis and development and their interaction with the GC immune microenvironment and flora. In addition, we explore the role of macrophages in preclinical and clinical trials on drug resistance and in treatment of GC to assess their potential therapeutic value in this disease.

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