Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs): Constructing an immunosuppressive microenvironment bridge for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a fatal disease with increasing incidences worldwide. The overall 5-year survival rate remains low, underscoring the urgent need for effective therapies. Despite the promising efficacy of immunotherapy for various solid tumors, its benefits for pancreatic c...

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Main Authors: Runjie Liu, Jianang Li, Liang Liu, Wenquan Wang, Jinbin Jia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapy
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949713224000557
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author Runjie Liu
Jianang Li
Liang Liu
Wenquan Wang
Jinbin Jia
author_facet Runjie Liu
Jianang Li
Liang Liu
Wenquan Wang
Jinbin Jia
author_sort Runjie Liu
collection DOAJ
description Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a fatal disease with increasing incidences worldwide. The overall 5-year survival rate remains low, underscoring the urgent need for effective therapies. Despite the promising efficacy of immunotherapy for various solid tumors, its benefits for pancreatic cancer have been disappointing. This is largely because of the complex and unique mechanisms of immune evasion inherent in PDAC. Emerging evidence has highlighted the pivotal role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in facilitating the immune escape of PDAC. TAMs significantly contribute to forming an immunosuppressive microenvironment, which hinders the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic approaches. They achieve this through multiple pathways, including the secretion of cytokines and the promotion or inhibition of multiple immune cells. In this review, we summarized the main pathways through which TAMs form an immunosuppressive microenvironment in PDAC. We also examined the current status and recent progress of immunotherapy strategies that specifically target macrophages. By understanding these mechanisms and exploring targeted therapies, we aimed to shed light on potential avenues for improving the treatment outcomes of this devastating disease.
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publisher Elsevier
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series Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapy
spelling doaj-art-bedbbb18c7894fecb6da46a2e2bbc0322025-08-20T02:19:47ZengElsevierCancer Pathogenesis and Therapy2949-71322025-05-013318319610.1016/j.cpt.2024.07.004Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs): Constructing an immunosuppressive microenvironment bridge for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)Runjie Liu0Jianang Li1Liang Liu2Wenquan Wang3Jinbin Jia4Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Basic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030000, China; Department of Basic Medicine and Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030000, ChinaDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, ChinaDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, ChinaDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, ChinaDepartment of Basic Medicine and Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030000, China; Corresponding author: Department of Basic Medicine and Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030000, China.Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a fatal disease with increasing incidences worldwide. The overall 5-year survival rate remains low, underscoring the urgent need for effective therapies. Despite the promising efficacy of immunotherapy for various solid tumors, its benefits for pancreatic cancer have been disappointing. This is largely because of the complex and unique mechanisms of immune evasion inherent in PDAC. Emerging evidence has highlighted the pivotal role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in facilitating the immune escape of PDAC. TAMs significantly contribute to forming an immunosuppressive microenvironment, which hinders the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic approaches. They achieve this through multiple pathways, including the secretion of cytokines and the promotion or inhibition of multiple immune cells. In this review, we summarized the main pathways through which TAMs form an immunosuppressive microenvironment in PDAC. We also examined the current status and recent progress of immunotherapy strategies that specifically target macrophages. By understanding these mechanisms and exploring targeted therapies, we aimed to shed light on potential avenues for improving the treatment outcomes of this devastating disease.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949713224000557Pancreatic cancerMacrophagesTumor microenvironmentImmunosuppression
spellingShingle Runjie Liu
Jianang Li
Liang Liu
Wenquan Wang
Jinbin Jia
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs): Constructing an immunosuppressive microenvironment bridge for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)
Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapy
Pancreatic cancer
Macrophages
Tumor microenvironment
Immunosuppression
title Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs): Constructing an immunosuppressive microenvironment bridge for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)
title_full Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs): Constructing an immunosuppressive microenvironment bridge for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)
title_fullStr Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs): Constructing an immunosuppressive microenvironment bridge for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)
title_full_unstemmed Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs): Constructing an immunosuppressive microenvironment bridge for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)
title_short Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs): Constructing an immunosuppressive microenvironment bridge for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)
title_sort tumor associated macrophages tams constructing an immunosuppressive microenvironment bridge for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma pdac
topic Pancreatic cancer
Macrophages
Tumor microenvironment
Immunosuppression
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949713224000557
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