Cancer metastasis linked to macrophage size, shape, and metabolism

Abstract

Using macrophage morphology in human colorectal cancer liver metastasis, Donadon et al. in this issue of JEM (https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20191847) provide a window into lipid metabolism and foamy macrophages, which accrue in numerous pathological states and here are shown to have clinical application.

Insights from Peter J. Murray.

S-TAMs and L-TAMs populate metastatic CRC in the liver. The quantity of L-TAMs in and around the invading tumor dictate, in part, survival outcomes from metastatic disease in the liver. The origins of the S- and L-TAMs can only be inferred from correlation to gene expression patterns. Depicted is a hypothetical organization where blood monocytes seed the S-TAM pool and L-TAMs arise from local KCs. However, further experiments are necessary to establish the precise ontogeny of the different macrophages.