Lipid-loaded tumor-associated macrophages sustain tumor growth and invasiveness in prostate cancer

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are correlated with the progression of prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCa). The mechanistic basis of this correlation and therapeutic strategies to target TAMs in PCa remain poorly defined. Here, single-cell RNA sequencing was used to profile the transcriptional landscape of TAMs in human PCa, leading to identification of a subset of macrophages characterized by dysregulation in transcriptional pathways associated with lipid metabolism. This subset of TAMs correlates positively with PCa progression and shorter disease-free survival and is characterized by an accumulation of lipids that is dependent on Marco. Mechanistically, cancer cell-derived IL-1 beta enhances Marco expression on macrophages, and reciprocally, cancer cell migration is promoted by CCL6 released by lipid-loaded TAMs. Moreover, administration of a high-fat diet to tumor-bearing mice raises the abundance of lipid-loaded TAMs. Finally, targeting lipid accumulation by Marco blockade hinders tumor growth and invasiveness and improves the efficacy of chemotherapy in models of PCa, pointing to combinatorial strategies that may influence patient outcomes. Integration of human single-cell RNA sequencing and mouse data on prostate cancer identifies a population of tumor-associated macrophages that is engulfed with lipids. The scavenger receptor Marco mediates lipid intake, and lipid accumulation in turn confers to macrophages' protumor features.

Automated summary

A subset of tumor-associated macrophages in prostate cancer is characterized by dysregulation in transcriptional pathways associated with lipid metabolism and correlates with cancer progression and shorter disease-free survival. Cancer cell-derived IL-1 beta enhances macrophage Marco expression, while lipid-loaded TAMs promote cancer cell migration through the release of CCL6. Targeting lipid accumulation by Marco blockade hinders tumor growth and invasiveness, improving chemotherapy efficacy in prostate cancer models.