Advanced search
Publication Cover
Future Oncology Volume 17, 2021 - Issue 10
Submit an article Journal homepage
2,542
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Editorial

The Hypothesis of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Mediating Semi-Phagocytosis of Cancer Cells in Distant Metastasis

Tingpei Ye1 State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR ChinaView further author information
,
Junjiang Liu1 State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR ChinaView further author information
,
Wei Zhao1 State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR ChinaView further author information
,
Shengtao Gao2 State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR ChinaView further author information
,
Shimeng Wang1 State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR ChinaView further author information
,
Fanglong Wu1 State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR ChinaCorrespondence[email protected]
ORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4506-1387View further author information
ORCID Icon &
Hongmei Zhou1 State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR ChinaView further author information
 show all
Pages 1125-1129 | Received 29 Oct 2020, Accepted 18 Dec 2020, Published online: 09 Feb 2021

Figures & data

Figure 1. Semi-phagocytosis mediated by Tumor-associated macrophages in cancer metastasis.

Aging TAMs in the primary site (e.g. head and neck etc.) semi-phagocytize tumor cells and transfer into blood circulation, then colonize in the metastasis site (e.g. lung etc.), in which the released cancer cells would trigger carcinogenesis in the distant organ/tissue. Mature TAMs could engulf tumor cells completely by whole-phagocytosis to form the phagosome and the absorbed tumor cells will be enzymatically degraded. However, aging TAMs might not engulf the whole cancer cells by semi-phagocytosis and would carry them for distant metastasis.

CAF: Cancer-associated fibroblast; TAM: Tumor-associated macrophage.

Figure 1. Semi-phagocytosis mediated by Tumor-associated macrophages in cancer metastasis.Aging TAMs in the primary site (e.g. head and neck etc.) semi-phagocytize tumor cells and transfer into blood circulation, then colonize in the metastasis site (e.g. lung etc.), in which the released cancer cells would trigger carcinogenesis in the distant organ/tissue. Mature TAMs could engulf tumor cells completely by whole-phagocytosis to form the phagosome and the absorbed tumor cells will be enzymatically degraded. However, aging TAMs might not engulf the whole cancer cells by semi-phagocytosis and would carry them for distant metastasis.CAF: Cancer-associated fibroblast; TAM: Tumor-associated macrophage.

Related research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.