# CSF1R

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/csf1r/  
OnCo record `csf1r` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

The receptor that macrophages depend on; blocking it shrinks tenosynovial giant cell tumour (a CSF1-driven tumour) and depletes tumour-supporting macrophages, though the latter has not yet helped patients with common cancers.

## Summary

CSF1R signalling sustains macrophages and microglia. Tenosynovial giant cell tumour is driven by CSF1 translocation in a minority of cells that recruit a CSF1R-positive mass: pexidartinib (2019) and vimseltinib (2025) are approved; emactuzumab and cabiralizumab (antibodies) showed activity. In solid tumours, CSF1R blockade to deplete tumour-associated macrophages and combine with PD-1 inhibitors (cabiralizumab-nivolumab in pancreatic cancer) was disappointing. Axatilimab (anti-CSF1R) was approved in 2024 for chronic GVHD, targeting macrophage-driven fibrosis.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-08
- Tags: gap-fill
- Symbol: CSF1R
- Class: kinase
- Biology: Type III receptor tyrosine kinase for CSF1 and IL-34; controls differentiation, survival and function of monocytes, macrophages, osteoclasts and microglia.
- Where found: Tenosynovial giant cell tumour (CSF1 translocation in neoplastic cells; CSF1R+ reactive mass); Tumour-associated macrophages in most solid tumours; Glioblastoma microglia; Chronic GVHD macrophages

## Notes

- In pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma the target is on tumour-associated macrophages and microglia rather than tumour cells, so no tumour-cell prevalence is recorded.

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_stimulating_factor_1_receptor
- ENLIVEN (Lancet 2019): https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30764-0

## Connected records

- targets: [KIT](https://onco.cc/targets/kit/), [PDGFRA](https://onco.cc/targets/pdgfra/)
- cancers: [Glioma & glioblastoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/glioblastoma/), [Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/pancreatic/), [Sarcomas (soft tissue, bone, GIST)](https://onco.cc/cancers/sarcoma/), [Tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT)](https://onco.cc/cancers/tenosynovial-giant-cell-tumour/)
- technologies: [Monoclonal antibodies](https://onco.cc/technologies/monoclonal-antibody/), [Small-molecule kinase inhibitors](https://onco.cc/technologies/kinase-inhibitors/)
- drugs: [Chiauranib](https://onco.cc/drugs/chiauranib/), [Emactuzumab](https://onco.cc/drugs/emactuzumab/), [Pexidartinib](https://onco.cc/drugs/pexidartinib/), [Surufatinib](https://onco.cc/drugs/surufatinib/), [Vimseltinib](https://onco.cc/drugs/vimseltinib/)
- key papers: [Pexidartinib versus placebo for advanced tenosynovial giant cell tumour (ENLIVEN): a randomised phase 3 trial](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-tap-lancet/), [Quail and Joyce 2013: microenvironmental regulation of tumour progression and metastasis](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-quail-joyce-microenvironment-metastasis-natmed-2013/)
- pathways: [Cold tumours: immune deserts and exclusion](https://onco.cc/pathways/immune-desert-exclusion/), [Complement in cancer](https://onco.cc/pathways/complement-in-cancer/), [Intravasation & circulating tumour cells](https://onco.cc/pathways/intravasation-ctc-survival/), [Myeloid suppression: TAMs, MDSCs & don't-eat-me signals](https://onco.cc/pathways/myeloid-suppression-axis/), [Nutrient competition & metabolic immunosuppression](https://onco.cc/pathways/nutrient-competition-tme/), [The angiogenic switch & tumour vessels](https://onco.cc/pathways/angiogenic-switch/), [The pre-metastatic niche](https://onco.cc/pathways/pre-metastatic-niche/)
- companies: [Abbisko Therapeutics](https://onco.cc/companies/abbisko/), [Qurient](https://onco.cc/companies/qurient/)
- trials: [ENLIVEN](https://onco.cc/trials/enliven/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/csf1r.json