To examine tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) through multi-omics approaches in the context of cancer immunotherapies.
Approach:
Research Topic Overview: The Research Topic includes 15 articles that explore TAM biology, focusing on TAM-tumor interactions, immune evasion pathways, and prognostic signatures.
TAM Functionality Across Malignancies: Studies analyze TAM functions in various cancers, including breast, ovarian, prostate, lung, gastric, and brain cancers, highlighting their roles in tumor progression and therapeutic resistance.
Prognostic Modeling: Machine-learning techniques are employed to create prognostic models based on TAM data, linking TAM characteristics to clinical outcomes.
Target Identification: Research identifies novel molecular targets and environmental triggers influencing TAM activation and immune exclusion.
Key Findings:
TAMs exhibit significant heterogeneity and plasticity, challenging the traditional M1/M2 classification.
Specific TAM subpopulations are linked to immune evasion and resistance to therapies in various cancers.
New biomarkers and therapeutic targets such as GPR35, EFNA3, and TIMP1 have been identified for potential clinical application.
Limitations:
The complexity of the tumor microenvironment may limit the generalizability of findings across different cancer types.
The reliance on multi-omics data requires careful integration and interpretation to avoid misrepresentation of TAM roles.
