Targeting tumor associated macrophages to alternate cancer stem cells and tumor microenvironment milieu
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Abstract
Macrophages in the tumor microenvironment are involved in promoting cancer growth and enabling it to evade therapies. By acting as something like a tumor's "underground," these cells dampen down the "calls for help" that chemotherapy or radiotherapy might otherwise trigger. They also appear to enable some cells in the cancers to reset themselves into cancer stem cells (CSCs), allowing them to divide and differentiate. Cancer stem cells are compelled to initiate tumors and maintain their growth. In part, the tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) effect this by secreting cytokines with well-established roles in regulating stemness, as well as proteins that govern cell migration and are known to help keep CSCs in the niche where the tumor formed and maintain the tumor. Prognostic studies have found that TAMs are associated with worse patient outcomes. This article reviews the existing knowledge on TAMs in supporting the survival and maintenance of CSCs, increasing tumor resilience and resistance to therapy. We did a systematic review using the keywords CSC, TAM, tumor microenvironment (TME), and extracellular matrix remodeling from the following databases: ScienceDirect, PubMed, NCBI, Nature, Google Scholar, and Oxford Academic for articles published between 2010 to 2026. The underlying premise of the current investigation is that macrophages facilitate the maintenance of the "stemness" characteristics of CSCs. The TAM-CSC alliance must be interrupted to improve therapeutic outcomes and reduce tumor recurrence. Our review focuses on addressing the difficulties presented by CSCs and TME through advanced research techniques and specific combination treatments. This alternative method offers a less harsh and more effective therapy that will improve the patient’s outcomes by effectively eradicating tumor cells and modifying the tumor microenvironment to enhance the immune system's capability to combat the tumor.
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