M2 macrophages on tumour growth and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma
K Man, CM Lo, XB Liu
Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong
 
 
1. M2 macrophages contributed to poor survival outcome in liver cancer patients. An increase in the number of immune cells within the tumour correlated with reduction in the overall and relapse-free survival period.
2. An increase in M2 macrophages correlated with larger tumour size, increased venous infiltration, and higher tumour stage.
3. M2 macrophages secreted a chemokine CCL22 that promoted invasiveness of liver cancer cells and increased the incidence of metastasis.
4. Targeting the tumour-promoting macrophages is a potential therapeutic strategy against liver cancer.