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. 2025 Aug 12;16:1642091. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1642091

Table 4.

Synthetic agents derived from natural products and combination strategies targeting TAMs in colon cancer.

Drug Pharmacological function Combination agent In vivo model and administration dose In vitro model Effect on macrophages Anti-tumor function Ref.
Aspirin antiplatelet, anti-inflammation, antipyretic / AOM/DSS, AOM mice: 25, 50 mg/kg / ↓ macrophages infiltration, iNOS inhibit tumorgenesis, inflammation, angiogenesis (193)
Fenretinide anticancer, chemoprevention, retinal protection / APCmin/+ mice: 20mg/kg RAW264.7
HCT116, SW260, SW480, Colo205
↓M2 polarization, Fizz1, PPAR-γ, p-STAT6 inhibit tumorgenesis, angiogenesis (194)
Plinabulin anticancer, immune modulation, anti-angiogenesis / C57BL/6N mice: MC38 subcutaneous inoculation, 7mg/kg PBMC, BMDM
MC38
Hut78
↑ M1 polarization, IL-1β, IL-6, IL12p40, ↓ IL-10, IL-4, ↑ active JNK pathway, Fas-L inhibit tumor growth, induce tumor cell death through Fas/Fas-L pathway (195)
Mannose-methyl-β-cyclodextrin anticancer, immune modulation / BALB/c male mice: colon-26 subcutaneous inoculation, 10mg/kg RAW264.7
Colon-26
↓ the amount of M2, ↑ intracellular uptake via MR inhibit tumor growth, promote tumor cell autophagy (196)
(Z)-1-(3-((1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)-2-oxoindolin-6-yl)-3-(isoxazol-3-yl)urea derivatives, compound 21 anticancer / C57BL/6 mice: MC38 subcutaneous inoculation, 5, 10, 20mg/kg THP-1
MC38, HCT116
↓ M2 polarization, IL-10, ARG1, CHIL3, VEGF, ↑ IL-12, TNF-α, IL-6, ↓ CSF-1R inhibit tumor growth through suppressing CSF-1R and p-AKT signaling (197)
Astragaloside IV immune modulation, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant aPD-1 BALB/c female mouse: CT26 axillary fat pad injection, Astragaloside IV: 15 mg/kg, aPD-1: 2.5mg/kg BMDM
CT26
↑ M1 polarization, IFN-γ, IL-12, TNF-α, ↓ Arg1, TGF-β, IL-10, VEGF-A inhibit tumor growth (184)
the sesquiterpene lactone-rich fraction of I. helenium (SFIH) anticancer, anti-inflammation, immune modulation aPD-1 C57BL/6 female mice: MC38 subcutaneous inoculation, SFIH: 50mg/kg, aPD-1: 200μg / ↑ M1 infiltration inhibit tumor growth, activate adaptive immune response (198)
Lobeline anticancer, neuroregulatory effect aPD-1 C57BL/6 mice: MC38 subcutaneous inoculation, Lobeline: 25mg/kg, aPD1: 5mg/kg / ↑ M1 polarization, ↓ M2 polarization inhibit tumor growth through regulating MAPK14/p53/Slurp1 signaling pathway, activate adaptive immune response (149)
Imprime PGG anticancer, immune modulation aPD-1 C57BL/6 mice: MC38 subcutaneous inoculation, Imprime: 1.2mg, aPD-1: 0.1mg / ↑ M1 polarization, TNF-α, PD-L1, inhibit tumor growth, activate NK cells and DC cells, promote T cells expansion (199)
Chinese yam polysaccharide (CYP) hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, immune modulation aPD-1 C57BL/6 mice: MC38 intraperitoneal injection, BALB/c mice: CT26 intraperitoneal injection, CYP: 100 mg/kg, aPD-1: 200 μg / ↓ M2 polarization, ARG1, IL-10 inhibit tumor growth, regulate intestinal microbiota-related metabolites, reprogram TME (200)
7S,15R-Dihydroxy-16S,17S-Epoxy-Docosapentaenoic Acid (diHEP-DPA) anticancer, retinal protection, lipid metabolism regulation 5-FU BALB/c female mice: CT26 xenograft, diHEP-DPA: 10, 20μg/kg, 5-FU: 20mg/kg THP-1
HT29, HCT116
↓ M2 infiltration, MMP2, MMP9, VEGF, IL-6, TNF-α, NF-κB signaling pathway, ↑ phagocytic activity via CD47/SIRPα axis inhibit tumor growth, EMT, inhibit cancer stem cells activation through ROS/STAT3 signaling pathway (201, 202)
Ovatodiolide anticancer, anti-inflammation 5-FU BALB/c mice: CT26 xenograft, Ovatodiolide: 5mg/kg, 5-FU: 30mg/kg THP-1
HCT116, DLD-1
↓ M2 polarization, ARG1, CD23, YAP1, β-catenin, AKT, NF-κB, IL-6 inhibit tumorigenesis and colon sphere generation (203)