A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal
Clinical landscape of macrophage-reprogramming cancer immunotherapies
Authors: Rannikko, Jenna H.; Hollmén, Maija
Publisher: Springer Nature
Publication year: 2024
Journal: British Journal of Cancer
Journal name in source: British journal of cancer
Journal acronym: Br J Cancer
Volume: 131
Issue: 4
First page : 627
Last page: 640
ISSN: 0007-0920
eISSN: 1532-1827
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-024-02715-6
Web address : https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-024-02715-6
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/454779913
Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) sustain a tumour-supporting and immunosuppressive milieu and therefore aggravate cancer prognosis. To modify TAM behaviour and unlock their anti-tumoural potential, novel TAM-reprogramming immunotherapies are being developed at an accelerating rate. At the same time, scientific discoveries have highlighted more sophisticated TAM phenotypes with complex biological functions and contradictory prognostic associations. To understand the evolving clinical landscape, we reviewed current and past clinically evaluated TAM-reprogramming cancer therapeutics and summarised almost 200 TAM-reprogramming agents investigated in more than 700 clinical trials. Observable overall trends include a high frequency of overlapping strategies against the same therapeutic targets, development of more complex strategies to improve previously ineffective approaches and reliance on combinatory strategies for efficacy. However, strong anti-tumour efficacy is uncommon, which encourages re-directing efforts on identifying biomarkers for eligible patient populations and comparing similar treatments earlier. Future endeavours will benefit from considering the shortcomings of past treatment strategies and accommodating the emerging complexity of TAM biology.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |  |
Funding information in the publication:
This study was supported by the Cancer Foundations and the Research Council of Finland. Open Access funding provided by University of Turku (including Turku University Central Hospital).
