The Analysis Study of Tumor-associated Macrophages and The Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients in East Asia : A Comprehensive Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have focused on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), a significant component of the cellular infiltrate in tumor tissue, which play a role in tumor progression and outcomes. This study aims to provide a comprehensive systematic review to evaluate TAM biomarkers in HCC diagnosis. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this systematic review focused exclusively on full-text articles published in English between 2014 and 2024. Result: The study conducted a comprehensive review of over 100 publications sourced from reputable databases, including ScienceDirect, SagePub, and PubMed. Following an initial screening, eight publications were identified as warranting more in-depth analysis. Consequently, a thorough review of these selected studies was performed to ensure a detailed and rigorous evaluation. Conclusion: Reprogramming TAMs from M2 to M1 may offer a promising therapeutic approach for HCC, particularly in regions like East Asia, where chronic hepatitis virus infection drives high morbidity and mortality. Detecting TAM subtypes may thus be especially valuable for diagnosing and treating East Asian HCC patients.