Tumor-associated macrophages contribute to the progression of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of malignancy-associated death in males. As with other solid tumours, their microenvironment is emerging as a key player in the progression of the disease, and as a potential therapeutic target. This microenvironment contains non-malignant cell lines, among them tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), which can control or promote tumour growth. Thus, knowledge on how these cells interact with tumour cells and with the microenvironment is central to the understanding of prostate cancer. This review focuses on the role of TAMs in tumour microenvironment of prostate cancer and how they can promote the progression of this disease. (C) 2015 Sociedad Mexicana de Oncologia. Published by Masson Doyma Mexico S.A.