Evaluating the Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Into M1 and M2 Phenotypes in Human Cancer Tissue: Technicalities and Challenges in Routine Clinical Practice
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) as immune cells within the tumor microenvironment have gained much interests as basic science regarding their roles in tumor progression unfolds. Better understanding of their polarization into pro-tumoral phenotype to promote tumor growth, tumor angiogenesis, imm...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fonc.2019.01512/full |
| _version_ | 1818287430152749056 |
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| author | Sharmilla Devi Jayasingam Marimuthu Citartan Thean Hock Thang Thean Hock Thang Anani Aila Mat Zin Kai Cheen Ang Ewe Seng Ch'ng |
| author_facet | Sharmilla Devi Jayasingam Marimuthu Citartan Thean Hock Thang Thean Hock Thang Anani Aila Mat Zin Kai Cheen Ang Ewe Seng Ch'ng |
| author_sort | Sharmilla Devi Jayasingam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) as immune cells within the tumor microenvironment have gained much interests as basic science regarding their roles in tumor progression unfolds. Better understanding of their polarization into pro-tumoral phenotype to promote tumor growth, tumor angiogenesis, immune evasion, and tumor metastasis has prompted various studies to investigate their clinical significance as a biomarker of predictive and prognostic value across different cancer types. Yet, the methodologies to investigate the polarization phenomena in solid tumor tissue vary. Nonetheless, quantifying the ratio of M1 to M2 TAMs has emerged to be a prevailing parameter to evaluate this polarization phenomena for clinical application. This mini-review focuses on recent studies exploring clinical significance of M1/M2 TAM ratio in human cancer tissue and critically evaluates the technicalities and challenges in quantifying this parameter for routine clinical practice. Immunohistochemistry appears to be the preferred methodology for M1/M2 TAM evaluation as it is readily available in clinical laboratories, albeit with certain limitations. Recommendations are made to standardize the quantification of TAMs for better transition into clinical practice and for better comparison among studies in various populations of patients and cancer types. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:40:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4b393b7b9b34fa9a508c0cffaf681e8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2234-943X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:40:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4b393b7b9b34fa9a508c0cffaf681e82022-12-22T00:03:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2020-01-01910.3389/fonc.2019.01512494426Evaluating the Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Into M1 and M2 Phenotypes in Human Cancer Tissue: Technicalities and Challenges in Routine Clinical PracticeSharmilla Devi Jayasingam0Marimuthu Citartan1Thean Hock Thang2Thean Hock Thang3Anani Aila Mat Zin4Kai Cheen Ang5Ewe Seng Ch'ng6Oncological and Radiological Sciences Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, MalaysiaInfectious Disease Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, MalaysiaInfectious Disease Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, MalaysiaFaculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University, Kedah, MalaysiaDepartment of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, MalaysiaInfectious Disease Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, MalaysiaOncological and Radiological Sciences Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, MalaysiaTumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) as immune cells within the tumor microenvironment have gained much interests as basic science regarding their roles in tumor progression unfolds. Better understanding of their polarization into pro-tumoral phenotype to promote tumor growth, tumor angiogenesis, immune evasion, and tumor metastasis has prompted various studies to investigate their clinical significance as a biomarker of predictive and prognostic value across different cancer types. Yet, the methodologies to investigate the polarization phenomena in solid tumor tissue vary. Nonetheless, quantifying the ratio of M1 to M2 TAMs has emerged to be a prevailing parameter to evaluate this polarization phenomena for clinical application. This mini-review focuses on recent studies exploring clinical significance of M1/M2 TAM ratio in human cancer tissue and critically evaluates the technicalities and challenges in quantifying this parameter for routine clinical practice. Immunohistochemistry appears to be the preferred methodology for M1/M2 TAM evaluation as it is readily available in clinical laboratories, albeit with certain limitations. Recommendations are made to standardize the quantification of TAMs for better transition into clinical practice and for better comparison among studies in various populations of patients and cancer types.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fonc.2019.01512/fulltumor-associated macrophagesM1M2immunohistochemistryCD68CD163 |
| spellingShingle | Sharmilla Devi Jayasingam Marimuthu Citartan Thean Hock Thang Thean Hock Thang Anani Aila Mat Zin Kai Cheen Ang Ewe Seng Ch'ng Evaluating the Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Into M1 and M2 Phenotypes in Human Cancer Tissue: Technicalities and Challenges in Routine Clinical Practice Frontiers in Oncology tumor-associated macrophages M1 M2 immunohistochemistry CD68 CD163 |
| title | Evaluating the Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Into M1 and M2 Phenotypes in Human Cancer Tissue: Technicalities and Challenges in Routine Clinical Practice |
| title_full | Evaluating the Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Into M1 and M2 Phenotypes in Human Cancer Tissue: Technicalities and Challenges in Routine Clinical Practice |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Into M1 and M2 Phenotypes in Human Cancer Tissue: Technicalities and Challenges in Routine Clinical Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Into M1 and M2 Phenotypes in Human Cancer Tissue: Technicalities and Challenges in Routine Clinical Practice |
| title_short | Evaluating the Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Into M1 and M2 Phenotypes in Human Cancer Tissue: Technicalities and Challenges in Routine Clinical Practice |
| title_sort | evaluating the polarization of tumor associated macrophages into m1 and m2 phenotypes in human cancer tissue technicalities and challenges in routine clinical practice |
| topic | tumor-associated macrophages M1 M2 immunohistochemistry CD68 CD163 |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fonc.2019.01512/full |
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