Tumour's Digest: Macrophage metabolism creates a barrier to T cells.

Abstract

Changes in the composition and physical properties of the tumor extracellular matrix are linked to poor cytotoxic T-cell infiltration and therapy response, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Tharp and colleagues revealed a fascinating cascade where tumor fibrosis alters macrophage metabolism, restricting the nutrients available to infiltrating T-cells and resulting in their suppression and exclusion from the tumor microenvironment. This study suggests that targeting metabolic pathways could be a promising strategy to overcome the immune suppression induced by the tumor extracellular matrix.