Increased density of tumor-associated macrophages is associated with decreased survival in advanced thyroid cancer Journal Article
| Authors: | Ryder, M.; Ghossein, R. A.; Ricarte-Filho, J. C. M.; Knauf, J. A.; Fagin, J. A. |
| Article Title: | Increased density of tumor-associated macrophages is associated with decreased survival in advanced thyroid cancer |
| Abstract: | Thyroid cancers are infiltrated with tumor-associated macrophages (TAMS), yet their role in cancer progression is not known. The objectives of this study were to characterize the density of TAMs in well-differentiated (WDTC), poorly differentiated (PDTC), and anaplastic thyroid cancers (ATC) and to correlate TAM density with clinicopathologic parameters. Immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue microarray sections from WIDTC (n=33), PDTC (n=37), and ATC (n=20) using macrophage-specific markers. Electronic medical records were used to gather clinical and pathologic data. Follow-up information of PDTC patients was available for 0-12 years. In total, 9 out of 33 WDTC (27%), 20 out of 37 PDTC (54%), and 19 out of 20 ATC (95%) had an increased density of CD68+ TAMs (≥ 10 per 0.28 MM2; WDTC versus PDTC, P=0.03; WDTC versus ATC, P<0.0001; PIDTC versus ATC, P<0.002). Increased TAMs in PDTC was associated with capsular invasion (P=0.034), extrathyroidal extension (P=0.009), and decreased cancer-related survival (P=0.009) compared with PDTC with a low density of TAMs. In conclusion, the density of TAMs is increased in advanced thyroid cancers. The presence of a high density of TAMs in PDTC correlates with invasion and decreased cancer-related survival. These results suggest that TAMs may facilitate tumor progression. As novel therapies directed against thyroid tumor cell-specific targets are being tested, the potential role of TAMs as potential modulators of the thyroid cancer behavior will need to be considered. © 2008 Society for Endocrinology. |
| Keywords: | immunohistochemistry; cancer survival; controlled study; human tissue; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; survival rate; young adult; human cell; major clinical study; histopathology; advanced cancer; follow up; neoplasm staging; tumor associated leukocyte; tumor differentiation; cell differentiation; cancer invasion; immunoenzyme techniques; electronic medical record; patient information; carcinoma; tissue array analysis; neoplasm invasiveness; thyroid cancer; thyroid neoplasms; tissue microarray; macrophages; anaplastic carcinoma; cd68 antigen |
| Journal Title: | Endocrine-Related Cancer |
| Volume: | 15 |
| Issue: | 4 |
| ISSN: | 1351-0088 |
| Publisher: | Bioscientifica Ltd |
| Date Published: | 2008-12-01 |
| Start Page: | 1069 |
| End Page: | 1074 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1677/erc-08-0036 |
| PUBMED: | 18719091 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PMCID: | PMC2648614 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 20" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: ERCAE" - "Source: Scopus" |
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