A look into the immunological landscape of the tumor: the Tumor Associated Macrophages
The undisputed protagonists of most immunotherapic strategies are cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) that can recognize and eliminate tumor cells, impairing cancer progression and metastasis dissemination. However, CTL are not the only immune population interacting with the tumor. The cancer “immune landscape” is far more complex and includes a mosaic of different cells that exert both anti- and pro-tumor functions. Each patient has its own immune landscape, which explains the variability in responses to therapy and can become a target for new drugs. What is in there besides lymphocytes?