This review examines tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which are diverse immune cells capable of either driving cancer growth or eliminating malignant cells. While traditional therapies attempted to broadly deplete these cells, modern strategies focus on reprogramming or effectorizing them to restore their natural anti-tumor functions. Scientists are now targeting "don’t-eat-me" signals to enhance phagocytosis and using genetic engineering, such as CAR-M cells, to create precision immune responses. The research also reveals that tumors influence myeloid progenitors systemically in the bone marrow, necessitating therapies that address cancer as a whole-body disease. By utilizing single-cell omics and spatial mapping, researchers aim to move beyond simple categorization to achieve sophisticated control over macrophage biology. Ultimately, these next-generation approaches seek to transform TAMs into frontline effectors that can eradicate tumors independently or in coordination with T cells.

References:

• Sun X, Park M D, Merad M, et al. Macrophages: Targets for next-generation cancer immunotherapy[J]. Cancer Cell, 2026.