TAM (Tumor-Associated Macrophage)

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are macrophages that infiltrate and reside within the tumor microenvironment, where they can adopt a wide spectrum of functional states depending on local signals such as oxygen tension, cytokines, and metabolites. Some TAM states support antigen presentation and anti-tumor immunity, while others promote immune suppression, angiogenesis, and tumor progression. Because TAMs are highly plastic and heterogeneous, tumors typically contain multiple distinct TAM subpopulations simultaneously, each shaped by — and reflecting — the local microenvironmental conditions in which it differentiated.