Macrophages in lung cancer: principal factors, regulatory mechanisms, and therapeutic opportunities: a narrative review

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world, with a high incidence and a poor prognosis. The current treatment methods are limited, and novel treatment strategies are needed. Macrophages, as innate immune cells, interact with lung cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment and can influence the occurrence and development of lung cancer. This paper reviews the role of macrophages in lung cancer in relation to polarization, exosomes, cytokines, cell pathways and genes, and clinical prognosis.