[Tumor-associated macrophages promote pre-metastatic niche formation in ovarian cancer].

Patients with ovarian cancer (OC) are often diagnosed at an advanced stage and have a poor prognosis because of extensive tumour metastasis. Tumour metastasis usually occurs in stages, which means that before the invasion of tumour cells, a pre-metastatic niche (PMN) has been formed to support the subsequent colonisation and growth of tumour cells. Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are highly heterogeneous in terms of origin, phenotype and function. As one of the most abundant components in the tumour microenvironment (TME), TAMs can contribute to PMN formation by promoting organotropism, mediating immunosuppression, metabolic reprogramming, facilitating angiogenesis, and inducing cancer cell stemness. Therefore, TAMs play an important role in OC metastasis.