Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Dec 15, 2026; 18(12): 125722
Published online Dec 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.125722
Published online Dec 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.125722
Tumor-associated macrophages in gastric cancer: Phenotypic plasticity and therapeutic targets
Shi-Hao Zheng, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China
Fan-E Cheng, Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China
Xin-Yue Shi, Beijing Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
Ting-Lan Cao, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
Hui-Zhong Jiang, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
Co-first authors: Shi-Hao Zheng and Fan-E Cheng.
Author contributions: Zheng SH and Cheng FE wrote the original draft; Zheng SH and Jiang HZ contributed to conceptualization; Zheng SH, Cheng FE and Cao TL participated in drafting the manuscript; Zheng SH and Cheng FE participated in investigation and formal analysis; Zheng SH and Shi XY performed data curation; Cheng FE and Jiang HZ contributed to reviewing and editing; Jiang HZ also contributed to methodology, supervision, and resources; and all authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
AI contribution statement: This manuscript did not use AI tools.
Supported by Science, Technology, and Innovation Specialization 2023, No. DZMKJCX-2023-014.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this article.
Corresponding author: Hui-Zhong Jiang, PhD, Professor, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 11 North Third Ring Road East, Beijing 100053, China. jianghz93@126.com
Received: July 15, 2026
Revised: August 23, 2026
Accepted: October 28, 2026
Published online: December 15, 2026
Processing time: 118 Days and 5.5 Hours
Revised: August 23, 2026
Accepted: October 28, 2026
Published online: December 15, 2026
Processing time: 118 Days and 5.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are highly plastic immune cells that shape gastric cancer progression and treatment response. This review moves beyond the M1/M2 model by summarizing single-cell-defined TAM heterogeneity, interactions with the gastric microenvironment and microbiota, and current targeting approaches. TAM-directed strategies are predominantly preclinical; translation will require subtype-aware biomarkers and rational combination with established therapies.