Crosstalk between macrophage-delivered cytokines and cyclooxygenase-2 in breast cancer microenvironment / 中国肿瘤临床

ABSTRACT

A new target in cancer treatment involves tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) which are infiltrated in microenvi-ronment. By secreting a wide range of cancer-promoting cytokines, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukins, and matrix metalloproteinase, TAMs can promote the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inflam-matory factor that is significant for angiogenesis and immunoregulation within the local microenvironment, may also contribute to can-cer progression and act as a novel target for breast cancer therapy. Several COX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib, have shown potential as suppressors of TAMs and the microenvironment. Hence, the current study discusses the crosstalk between TAMs-delivered important cytokines and COX-2 in the breast cancer microenvironment, and then analyzes the value of homologous antagonists alone or in combi-nation with COX-2 inhibitors. This paper aims to provide the theoretical principle of multi-target selection in TAMs blockage, and offer a new direction for biological targeted therapy in breast cancer treatment.