Macrophages in Mesothelioma : Improving immunotherapy in pulmonary oncology

The concept that the immune system is capable of recognizing and destroying cancer cells has lead to the development of cancer immunotherapy. Although immunotherapy is a major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer, there is still much room for improvement. One of the hurdles to overcome is the immunosuppressive environment created by the tumor which hampers the anti-tumor immune response. In mesothelioma, macrophages are a pivotal part of this environment. In this thesis, the phenotype, function and clinical value of macrophages in the mesothelioma environment is established. Furthermore, macrophages are identified as potential therapeutic targets in mesothelioma, especially in combination with other immunotherapeutic approaches.