The M2 phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages in the stroma confers a poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer

• DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-4741-z
• Publication Date: 2016-01-05T23:08:50Z
• Authors: Hai Hu; Jun-Jie Hang; Ting Han; Meng Zhuo; Feng Jiao; Li-Wei Wang
• Keywords: CD163; CD68; Infiltration (HVAC); Tumor-associated macrophage; M2 Macrophage

Macrophages play a critical role in the initiation and progression of various solid tumors. However, their prognostic significance pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is poorly understood. This study investigated distribution patterns macrophages PDAC possible association with overall survival (OS). We found significant differences macrophage density (identified by CD68 CD163 immunopositivity; p < 0.001 for both) between primary cancer paired adjacent normal tissues. Most cancerous tissues were located stroma rather than islets (p = 0.032 0.001). also demonstrated that high total (characterized immunopositivity) correlated an absence jaundice before surgery 0.03) M2 strongly tumors tail body pancreas 0.04). In addition, OS was shorter patients high-density infiltration those low-density 0.012). Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed dense into independent factor 0.02).