Wang WL, Tam PKH, Chen Y. Abnormally activated wingless/integrated signaling modulates tumor-associated macrophage polarization and potentially promotes hepatocarcinoma cell growth. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30(41): 4490-4495 [PMID: 39534418 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i41.4490]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Yan Chen, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Praia Park Block R Coloane Macau, Macau 999078, China. chenyan@must.edu.mo
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Letter to the Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Wei-Lu Wang, Paul Kwong Hang Tam, Yan Chen, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 999078, China
Author contributions: Wang WL and Chen Y wrote this article; Tam PKH and Chen Y revised this editorial and provided funding support. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported byMacau Science and Technology Development Fund, No. 0086/2022/A and No. 0097/2022/A2.
Conflict-of-interest statement: Tam PKH and Chen Y have received research funding from Macau Science and Technology Development Fund.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Yan Chen, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Praia Park Block R Coloane Macau, Macau 999078, China. chenyan@must.edu.mo
Received: August 1, 2024 Revised: September 19, 2024 Accepted: October 9, 2024 Published online: November 7, 2024 Processing time: 82 Days and 21.6 Hours
Abstract
In this article, we comment on the article by Huang et al. The urgent development of new therapeutic strategies targeting macrophage polarization is critical in the fight against liver cancer. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), primarily of the M2 subtype, are instrumental in cellular communication within the tumor microenvironment and are influenced by various signaling pathways, including the wingless/integrated (Wnt) pathway. Activation of the Wnt signaling pathway is pivotal in promoting M2 TAMs polarization, which in turn can exacerbate hepatocarcinoma cell proliferation and migration. This manuscript emphasizes the burgeoning significance of the Wnt signaling pathway and M2 TAMs polarization in the pathogenesis and progression of liver cancer, highlighting the potential therapeutic benefits of inhibiting the Wnt pathway. Lastly, we point out areas in Huang et al’s study that require further research, providing guidance and new directions for similar studies.
Core Tip: This paper sheds light on the role of abnormally activated wingless/integrated signaling pathway as an M2 tumor-associated macrophage polarization promoter and potential target for promoting hepatocarcinoma cell growth and migration. We also comment on the article by Huang et al. Finally, we highlight areas in the study by Huang et al that require further research, providing guidance and new directions for similar relevant studies.
