Research teams of the biochemist Wolfram Weckwerth and the immunologist Thomas Weichhart have discovered a novel checkpoint in immune cells that can help to treat the cancer cell microenvironment. They believe that by hindering the growth of M2-type macrophages in the microenvironment of cancer cells they could reverse the growth of cancer tumors. M2-type macrophages support the growth of cancer cells. Research suggests that regulating the pathway of these checkpoints by specific substances may help to stop the growth of cancer cells. Researchers are now thoroughly studying these complex metabolic processes by combining metabolite profiling and data-driven computational modeling to develop potential strategies for cancer cell treatment.