His group identified signaling pathways that regulate crosstalk between tumor cells and macrophages...
At the recent academic ceremony at Justus-Liebig University Giessen, DZL Faculty member Dr. Rajkumar Savai received the Dr. Herbert Stolzenberg award for his work on the role of tumor associated macrophages in lung cancer.
His group identified signaling pathways that regulate crosstalk between tumor cells and macrophages: In human lung cancer, infiltration of the tumor tissue by tumor associated macrophages (a type of immune cells) correlates with tumor stage and metastasis. Bidirectional cross-talk between these macrophages and cancer cells via the inflammatory signaling pathway of chemokines and their receptors (CCR2-CCL2 and CXCR1-CXCL1) is essential for tumor growth and spreading and thus may offer for new treatment concepts for this devastating disease.
Tumor-associated macrophages (MΦ) represent one of the most abundant cell components in the tumor environment and are key contributors to cancer-related inflammation. Increased numbers of tumor-associated MΦ correlate with poor disease outcome in patients affected by several types of cancer.
Schmall A, Al-Tamari HM, Herold S, Kampschulte M, Weigert A, Wietelmann A, Vipotnik N, Grimminger F, Seeger W, Pullamsetti SS, Savai R. Macrophage and cancer cell cross-talk via CCR2 and CX3CR1 is a fundamental mechanism driving lung cancer. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2015 Feb 15; 191(4):437-47. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201406-1137OC.
