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Dello Russo et al. Neuroimmunol Neuroinflammation 2018;5:36 Neuroimmunology and
DOI: 10.20517/2347-8659.2018.42 Neuroinflammation

Review Open Access

Glioma associated microglia/macrophages, a
potential pharmacological target to promote
antitumor inflammatory immune response in the
treatment of glioblastoma

Cinzia Dello Russo , Natalia Cappoli 1
1,2
1 Institute of Pharmacology, Università Cattolica del S Cuore, Rome 00168, Italy.
2 Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Correspondence to: Dr. Cinzia Dello Russo, Institute of Pharmacology, Università Cattolica del S Cuore, Rome 00168, Italy.
E-mail: cinzia.dellorusso@unicatt.it

How to cite this article: Dello Russo C, Cappoli N. Glioma associated microglia/macrophages, a potential pharmacological target to
promote antitumor inflammatory immune response in the treatment of glioblastoma. Neuroimmunol Neuroinflammation 2018;5:36.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-8659.2018.42
Received: 25 Jun 2018 First Decision: 20 Jul 2018 Revised: 21 Aug 2018 Accepted: 22 Aug 2018 Published: 20 Sep 2018

Science Editor: Athanassios P. Kyritsis Copy Editor: Yuan-Li Wang Production Editor: Huan-Liang Wu

ABSTRACT
Glioma associated microglia/macrophages (GAMs) constitute the largest proportion of glioma infiltrating cells, par-
ticularly in high grade tumors (i.e., glioblastoma). Once inside the tumors, GAMs usually acquire a specific pheno-
type of activation that favors tumor growth, angiogenesis and promotes the invasion of normal brain parenchyma.
Therefore, treatments that limit or prevent GAMs’ recruitment at the tumor site or modulate their immune activa-
tion promoting antitumor activities are expected to exert beneficial effects in glioblastoma. In the present paper, we
aim at the revision of pharmacological strategies that interfere with GAMs’ function and are currently proposed as
an alternative/additional option to current approved cytotoxic regimens.

Keywords: Glioblastoma, macrophages, microglia, metalloproteases, pro-inflammatory activation, pro-tumor func-
tions, glioma associated microglia/macrophages targeted therapies, pharmacotherapy

INTRODUCTION
Glioma associated microglia/macrophages (GAMs) constitute the largest proportion of tumor infiltrating
cells. They are less abundant in low grade gliomas, but constitute up to 30% of the entire tumor mass in

© The Author(s) 2018. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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