Fig. 1

Paracrine mechanisms of interaction between cancer stem cells (CSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM). CSCs produce chemotactic factors (CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CCL8, CXCL12) to recruit circulating monocytes in the tumor; moreover, they shape macrophage polarization towards an M2-like, pro-tumoral, phenotype by secreting IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, TGFβ. On the macrophage side, TAMs support CSCs and their niche by secreting IL-6, IL-1β, TGFβ, TNF-α, CCL5, CCL8, MGF-E8, hCAP-18/LL-37, GPNMB. This figure was made with Servier Medical Art templates, which are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0. Unported License (https://smart.servier.com)