Hypoxia and IFN signaling are two mechanisms that induce accumulation, maturation and M2 polarization of macrophages, and further induce therapeutic resistance and disease progression in the NPC microenvironment (100). Targeting molecules that are associated with hypoxia and IFN signaling represents a potential therapeutic strategy to minimize the suppressive function of M2 macrophages or enhance the accumulation of monocytes and M1-macrophages in the TME. The gene discussed is IFNA1; the disease is nasopharyngeal carcinoma.