Tumor-associated macrophages: from basic research to clinical application
Authors: Li Yang
Yi Zhang
Journal: Journal of Hematology & Oncology (2017)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Biomarker; Protumoral activities; Therapeutic target; Tumor microenvironment; Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs).
Affiliations: Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China., Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China., Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China. ., Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China. ., School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, No.100 Kexue Road, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan Province, China. .

Abstract:  The fact that various immune cells, including macrophages, can be found in tumor tissues has long been known. With the introduction of concept that macrophages differentiate into a classically or alternatively activated phenotype, the role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is now beginning to be elucidated. TAMs act as "protumoral macrophages," contributing to disease progression. TAMs can promote initiation and metastasis of tumor cells, inhibit antitumor immune responses mediated by T cells, and stimulate tumor angiogenesis and subsequently tumor progression. As the relationship between TAMs and malignant tumors becomes clearer, TAMs are beginning to be seen as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of cancers, as well as therapeutic targets in these cases. In this review, we will discuss the origin, polarization, and role of TAMs in human malignant tumors, as well as how TAMs can be used as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of cancer in clinics. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 The reminder from a colleague: after deleting several paragraphs, the text of this review in *J Hematol Oncol* was republished in *Biomark Res* (PMID: 28804638) by the same authors. This self-plagiarism has been reported last year. The last author is on the editorial boards of *J Hematol Oncol* and *Biomark Res*. Following are the marked-up results of text comparison by Sim-Texter . The highlighted text shows the similarity between compared publications. On the left is the *J Hematol Oncol* review, on the right the *Biomark Res* publication. ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] Here are some close-up views. ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] In addition, many sentences in this *J Hematol Oncol* review are directly copied from the previous publications from other groups (such as PMID: 24168081, 22277903, 26692918, 26966341). Due to the policy of Pubpeer.com, the comparing results are not allowed to post. Readers can compare the texts by themselves. , 
 Several sentences were randomly selected and googled. The results showed that sentences from at least 7 publications were copied and used without proper citation or indication. The copied sentences are directly used or minimally adapted, such as substituting with extension or abbreviation. Although the authors did not copy the whole paragraphs from other publications, the substantial duplications of sentences are still the plagiarism. Following are the results of text comparison by Sim-Texter . The highlighted text shows the similarity between compared publications. On the left is the J Hematol Oncol review, on the right the copied publications. The comparison with  Zhang_2015-Am J Transl Res_PMID 26692918 ![file] The comparison with  Komohara-2014-Cancer Sci_PMID 24168081 ![file] The comparison with  Colvin-2014-Front Oncol_PMID 24936477 ![file] The comparison with  Kim-2016-Mediators Inflamm_PMID 26966341 ![file] The comparison with  Vinogradov-2014-Nanomedicine_PMID 24827844 ![file] The comparison with  Adams-2014-Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A_PMID 24550495 ![file] The comparison with  Ruffell-2012-Trends Immunol_PMID 22277903 ![file] ,