Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Prostate, Bladder, and Renal Cancer Metastasis: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications.

Authors

Yan Zhang, Hanzhong Zhang, Chenyi Ge, Anqi Lin, Ying Liu, Yu Fang, Le Qu, Peng Luo, Lingfeng Wu, Aimin Jiang, Linhui Wang

Published in

Critical reviews in oncology/hematology. Pages 105696. Nov 09, 2026. Epub Nov 09, 2026.

Abstract

Despite significant advances in localized treatment modalities, metastasis remains the primary determinant of mortality in urological malignancies, including prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and renal cell carcinoma. This review synthesizes recent mechanistic insights to provide a conceptual framework of the TAM-driven metastatic cascade. We organize the available evidence into four conceptual phases: the Education phase, where chemokine networks (CCL2/CCR2) and metabolic symbiosis (involving lactate, iron, and glutamine) recruit and reprogram monocytes toward tumor-supportive macrophage states; the Departure phase, where TAMs contribute to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and other invasive programs, remodel the extracellular matrix, and induce vasculogenic mimicry to facilitate invasion; the Transit phase, featuring the association of circulating cancer-associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs) with circulating tumor-cell survival and metastatic progression, potentially through protection from shear stress and immune surveillance; and the Arrival phase, where TAMs contribute to pre-metastatic niche formation and immune suppression through complement- and checkpoint-associated mechanisms through immune checkpoints such as VISTA.

PMID:
43003241
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 10 Nov 2026.

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