THE ROLE OF MACROPHAGES IN ANTITUMOR DEFENSE OF PATIENTS WITH OVARIAN CANCER

Cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system, monocytes in peripheral blood, and macrophages in tissues and serous cavities, play important roles in the immunologic defense against cancer cells, microorganisms and viruses. Monocytes are derived from bone marrow progenitors/precursors and, after circulating 3 to 6 days in the peripheral blood, migrate to tissues and organs where they differentiate into long-lived tissue macrophages. 24, 41 Macrophages are widely distributed throughout every organ of the body and have specialized functions at each anatomic site. 12 They are predominantly located in the spleen, lymph nodes, pulmonary alveoli, liver (Kupffer's cells), serous cavities (peritoneum and pleura) and connective tissue (histiocytes) but can also be found in the bone (osteoclasts), nervous system (microglia), joints (synovial type A cells), 4, 12, 41, 44 and skin. This article examines the biologic and therapeutic activities of macrophages.