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Lu L, Liu YJ, Cheng PQ, Hu D, Xu HC, Ji G. Macrophages play a role in inflammatory transformation of colorectal cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2021; 13(12): 2013-2028 [PMID: 35070038 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i12.2013]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Dec 15, 2021; 13(12): 2013-2028 Published online Dec 15, 2021. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i12.2013
Macrophages play a role in inflammatory transformation of colorectal cancer
Lu Lu, Yu-Jing Liu, Pei-Qiu Cheng, Dan Hu, Han-Chen Xu, Guang Ji
Lu Lu, Yu-Jing Liu, Pei-Qiu Cheng, Han-Chen Xu, Guang Ji, Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
Dan Hu, Han-Chen Xu, Shanghai Pudong New Area Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
Author contributions: Lu L, Liu YJ, Cheng PQ, and Hu D wrote the manuscript; Ji G and Xu HC are co-corresponding authors, and they contributed to editing the manuscript; all authors wrote, read, and approved the final manuscript.
Supported byThe National Nature Science Foundation of China, No. 81874206; Shanghai Rising-Star Program, No. 20QA1409300; and the Program for Young Eastern Scholar at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning, No. QD2019034.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest associated with any of the senior author or other coauthors who contributed their efforts in this manuscript.
Corresponding author: Guang Ji, MD, PhD, Chief Doctor, Professor, Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 725 South Wanping Road, Shanghai 200032, China. jiliver@vip.sina.com
Received: May 17, 2021 Peer-review started: May 17, 2021 First decision: July 14, 2021 Revised: July 21, 2021 Accepted: August 25, 2021 Article in press: August 25, 2021 Published online: December 15, 2021 Processing time: 211 Days and 15.3 Hours
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and fatal cancers worldwide, and it is also a typical inflammatory cancer. The function of macrophages is very important in the tissue immune microenvironment during inflammatory and carcinogenic transformation. Here, we evaluated the function and mechanism of macrophages in intestinal physiology and in different pathological stages. Furthermore, the role of macrophages in the immune microenvironment of CRC and the influence of the intestinal population and hypoxic environment on macrophage function are summarized. In addition, in the era of tumor immunotherapy, CRC currently has a limited response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors, and we summarize potential therapeutic strategies for targeting tumor-associated macrophages.
Core Tip: In this review, we provide a comprehensive review of the research progress of macrophages in intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer. It is of great significance to discuss the intestinal macrophages under steady-state and inflammatory conditions and tumor-associated macrophages in the immune microenvironment. With the research on macrophages in intestinal inflammation and tumor diseases, targeted macrophage therapy will benefit patients with intestinal inflammation or colorectal cancer.
