Are monocytes a preferable option to develop myeloid cell-based therapies for solid tumors?

Bhatia, D; Dolcetti, R; Mazzieri, R

Author(s): Bhatia, D; Dolcetti, R; Mazzieri, R;
Details: Publication Year 2025-03-15,Volume 44,Issue #1,Page 98
Journal Title: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research
Publication Type: Review
Abstract: In the last two decades, novel and promising cell-based therapies have populated the treatment landscape for haematological tumors. However, commonly exploited T and NK cell-based therapies show limited applicability to solid tumors. This is mainly given by the impaired tumor trafficking capability and limited effector activity of these cells within a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Myeloid cells spontaneously home to tumors and can thus be reprogrammed and/or engineered to directly attack tumor cells or locally and selectively deliver therapeutically relevant payloads that may improve the efficacy of immunotherapy against difficult-to-access solid tumors. In the context of myeloid cell-based therapies, adoptive transfer of monocytes has often been overshadowed by infusion of differentiated macrophages or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation despite their promising therapeutic potential. Here, we summarize the recent improvements and benefits of using monocytes for the treatment of solid tumors, their current clinical applications and the challenges of their use as well as some possible strategies to overcome them.
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Humans; *Monocytes/immunology; *Neoplasms/therapy/immunology; Myeloid Cells/immunology; Animals; Tumor Microenvironment; Immunotherapy/methods; Adoptive cell therapy; Chimeric antigen receptors; Immunotherapy; Macrophages; Monocytes
Department(s): Laboratory Research
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-025-03359-x
Open Access at Publisher's Site: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-025-03359-x
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 2025-04-02 06:40:54

Last Modified: 2025-04-02 06:45:44