The review explores the metabolic landscape of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and their role in tumor biology. It highlights the importance of glucose, fatty acids, glutamine, and arginine in modulating TAM metabolism, which in turn influences tumor growth and immune responses. The review discusses the current understanding of TAM metabolic phenotypes, including the binary M1 and M2 classifications, and emphasizes the complexity of these phenotypes. It also reviews therapeutic strategies targeting TAM metabolism, such as using metabolic inhibitors like 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) and metformin, and the potential of targeting specific metabolic pathways like arginine and glutamine metabolism. The review underscores the need for further research to refine drug specificity and delivery methods to maximize therapeutic efficacy, particularly in the context of brain tumors where BBB penetration is a significant challenge. Overall, the review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of TAM metabolism in cancer and the potential of metabolic modulation as an emerging immunotherapy strategy.The review explores the metabolic landscape of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and their role in tumor biology. It highlights the importance of glucose, fatty acids, glutamine, and arginine in modulating TAM metabolism, which in turn influences tumor growth and immune responses. The review discusses the current understanding of TAM metabolic phenotypes, including the binary M1 and M2 classifications, and emphasizes the complexity of these phenotypes. It also reviews therapeutic strategies targeting TAM metabolism, such as using metabolic inhibitors like 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) and metformin, and the potential of targeting specific metabolic pathways like arginine and glutamine metabolism. The review underscores the need for further research to refine drug specificity and delivery methods to maximize therapeutic efficacy, particularly in the context of brain tumors where BBB penetration is a significant challenge. Overall, the review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of TAM metabolism in cancer and the potential of metabolic modulation as an emerging immunotherapy strategy.