Abstract
Tumour-infiltrating myeloid cells (TIMCs) are critical regulators of cancer growth. The different phenotypes, functions and therapeutic effects of these phagocytes have, however, been difficult to study. With the advent of single-cell-based technologies, a new ‘worldview’ is emerging: the classification of TIMCs into subtypes that are conserved across patients and across species. As the landscape of TIMCs is beginning to be understood, it opens up questions about the function of each TIMC subtype and its drugability. In this Perspective, we outline the current map of TIMC populations in cancer and their known and presumed functions, and discuss their therapeutic implications and the biological research questions that they give rise to. The answers should be particularly relevant for bioengineers, materials scientists and the chemical and pharmaceutical communities developing the next generation of cancer therapies.
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Change history
06 April 2020
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-020-0554-5
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank M. Miller for helpful discussions. R.W. is supported by National Institutes of Health grant numbers UH3 CA202637, R01 CA204019, P01 CA069246, U01 CA206890, R01 CA206997 and R21 CA236561. M.J.P. is supported by National Institutes of Health grant numbers R01 AI084880, R01 CA206890, R01 CA218579, P01 CA240239 and U01 CA224348, and by the Samana Cay MGH Research Scholar Fund.
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R.W. has received consultancy payments from ModeRNA, Tarveda Pharmaceuticals, Alivio Therapeutics and Accure Health, and is a shareholder of T2Biosystems, Lumicell and Accure Health. M.J.P. has received consultancy payments from Aileron Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Elstar Therapeutics, KSQ Therapeutics, MPM Capital, Siamab Therapeutics, Third Rock Ventures and Tidal Therapeutics. All patents associated with R.W. and M.J.P. have been assigned to, and handled by, the Massachusetts General Hospital.
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Weissleder, R., Pittet, M.J. The expanding landscape of inflammatory cells affecting cancer therapy. Nat Biomed Eng 4, 489–498 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-020-0524-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-020-0524-y
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