REGHU, GAYATRIVEMULA, PRAVEEN KUMARBHAT, SARITA GANAPATHYNARAYANAN, SREEJA2024-11-302024-11-302024-06REGHU GAYATRI, VEMULA PRAVEEN KUMAR, BHAT SARITA GANAPATHY, NARAYANAN SREEJA. Harnessing the innate immune system by revolutionizing macrophage-mediated cancer immunotherapy. Journal of Biosciences. 2024 Jun; 49: 1-120250-59910973-7138https://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/237981Immunotherapy is a promising and safer alternative to conventional cancer therapies. It involves adaptive T-cell therapy, cancer vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) based therapies. However, most of these modalities encounter restrictions in solid tumours owing to a dense, highly hypoxic and immune-suppressive microenvironment as well as the heterogeneity of tumour antigens. The elevated intra-tumoural pressure and mutational rates within fast-growing solid tumours present challenges in efficient drug targeting and delivery. The tumour microenvironment is a dynamic niche infiltrated by a variety of immune cells, most of which are macrophages. Since they form a part of the innate immune system, targeting macrophages has become a plausible immunotherapeutic approach. In this review, we discuss several versatile approaches (both at pre-clinical and clinical stages) such as the direct killing of tumour-associated macrophages, reprogramming pro-tumour macrophages to anti-tumour phenotypes, inhibition of macrophage recruitment into the tumour microenvironment, novel CAR macrophages, and genetically engineered macrophages that have been devised thus far. These strategies comprise a strong and adaptable macrophage-toolkit in the ongoing fight against cancer and by understanding their significance, we may unlock the full potential of these immune cells in cancer therapy.Cancer immunologyCARTcellsimmunotherapymacrophagestumour-associated macrophagesJournal ArticleIndiaDepartment of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi 682 022, IndiaInstitute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru 560 065, IndiaDepartment of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi 682 022, IndiaDepartment of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi 682 022, India