Essential to Chen’s study is a foundational understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). The TME, comprising various immune cells, plays a crucial role in shaping an immunosuppressive landscape that promotes tumor development, progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. Among the immune cells in the TME, TAMs are the most abundant and are known to exert potent immunosuppressive functions, supporting tumor growth, and immune evasion.
