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Am J Transl Res 2012;4(4):376-389
Review Article
Tumor-associated macrophages: function, phenotype, and link to
prognosis in human lung cancer
Jon G Quatromoni, Evgeniy Eruslanov
Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Received September 17, 2012; accepted October 6, 2012; Epub October 10, 2012; Published October 30, 2012
Abstract: Macrophages are the dominant leukocyte population found in the tumor microenvironment.
Accumulating evidence suggests that these tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) actively promote all aspects
of tumor initiation, growth, and development. However, TAMs are not a single uniform population; instead, they are
composed of multiple distinct pro- and anti-tumoral subpopulations with overlapping features depending on a
variety of external factors. Defining and differentiating these subsets remains a challenging work-in-progress.
These difficulties are apparent in prognostic studies in lung cancer that initially demonstrated conflicting evidence
regarding the significance of TAMs but which have more recently clarified and confirmed the clinical importance of
these subsets through improved phenotypic capabilities. Thus, these cells represent potential targets for cancer
therapeutic initiatives through translational approaches. In this review, we summarize the current understanding
of how the tumor microenvironment takes advantage of macrophage plasticity to mold an immunosuppressive
population, the phenotypic heterogeneity of TAMs, and their link to prognosis in human lung cancer.
(AJTR1209004).
Keywords: Myeloid cells, tumor-associated macrophages, tumor microenvironment, lung cancer, phenotype,
prognosis
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Evgeniy Eruslanov, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine, 1015 Abramson ResearchCenter, 3615 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail:
Evgeniy.Eruslanov@uphs.upenn.edu
Review Article
Tumor-associated macrophages: function, phenotype, and link to
prognosis in human lung cancer
Jon G Quatromoni, Evgeniy Eruslanov
Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Received September 17, 2012; accepted October 6, 2012; Epub October 10, 2012; Published October 30, 2012
Abstract: Macrophages are the dominant leukocyte population found in the tumor microenvironment.
Accumulating evidence suggests that these tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) actively promote all aspects
of tumor initiation, growth, and development. However, TAMs are not a single uniform population; instead, they are
composed of multiple distinct pro- and anti-tumoral subpopulations with overlapping features depending on a
variety of external factors. Defining and differentiating these subsets remains a challenging work-in-progress.
These difficulties are apparent in prognostic studies in lung cancer that initially demonstrated conflicting evidence
regarding the significance of TAMs but which have more recently clarified and confirmed the clinical importance of
these subsets through improved phenotypic capabilities. Thus, these cells represent potential targets for cancer
therapeutic initiatives through translational approaches. In this review, we summarize the current understanding
of how the tumor microenvironment takes advantage of macrophage plasticity to mold an immunosuppressive
population, the phenotypic heterogeneity of TAMs, and their link to prognosis in human lung cancer.
(AJTR1209004).
Keywords: Myeloid cells, tumor-associated macrophages, tumor microenvironment, lung cancer, phenotype,
prognosis
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Evgeniy Eruslanov, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine, 1015 Abramson ResearchCenter, 3615 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail:
Evgeniy.Eruslanov@uphs.upenn.edu
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