Lung Cancer Cells Secrete Glutamine to Accumulate Tumor-Associated Macrophages.

ABSTRACT: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are critical contributors to cancer progression and are often recruited by cancer cells to support a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment. Integrin αvβ3 is a known driver and marker of cancer stem-like properties, including tumor initiation, in various epithelial cancers. We have previously shown a positive correlation between αvβ3 expression and TAM infiltration across multiple tumor types; however, the mechanistic link remains undefined. Here, we demonstrated that integrin αvβ3 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells is both necessary and sufficient to drive TAM accumulation. In orthotopic murine and human NSCLC models, ectopic integrin αvβ3 expression increased TAM infiltration independently of T cells, whereas genetic deletion of integrin

SUBMITTER: Reddy JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12799098 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature