Endocrinol Metab.  2013 Sep;28(3):192-198. 10.3803/EnM.2013.28.3.192.

The Expression of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

• Kim S
• Cho SW
• Min HS
• Kim KM
• Yeom GJ
• Kim EY
• Lee KE
• Yun YG
• Park DJ
• Park YJ

• KMID: 1973823
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2013.28.3.192

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a tumorigenic role related to advanced staging and poor prognosis in many human cancers including thyroid cancers. Yet, a functional role of TAMs in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has not been established. The aim of this study was to investigate TAM expression in human PTC with lymph node (LN) metastasis.
METHODS
Thirty-six patients who underwent surgery after being diagnosed with PTC with LN metastasis were included. Primary tumor tissues were immunohistochemically stained with an anti-CD68 antibody and clinical characteristics according to TAM density were evaluated.
RESULTS
The TAM densities (CD68+ cells) varied from 5% to 70%, in all tumor areas, while few cells were stained in adjacent normal tissues. TAMs were identified as CD68+ cells with thin, elongated cytoplasmic extensions that formed a canopy structure over tumor cells. Comparing clinicopathologic characteristics between tumors with low (<25%) and high (25% to 70%) TAM densities, primary tumors were larger in the high density group than in the low density group (2.0+/-0.1 vs. 1.5+/-0.1; P=0.009).
CONCLUSION
TAMs were identified in primary PTC tumors with LN metastasis and higher TAM densities were related to larger tumor sizes, suggesting a tumorigenic role of TAMs in human PTCs.

Keyword

Tumor-associated macrophages; Thyroid cancer, papillary; Tumor size

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma
Cytoplasm
Factor IX
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Macrophages
Neoplasm Metastasis
Prognosis
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms
Carcinoma
Factor IX
Thyroid Neoplasms

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Classification of the density of CD68-positive cells in human papillary thyroid carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining of CD68 was performed and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) were scored by the number of CD68+ cells/total tumor cells under × 400 magnification. Patients were divided into two groups according to TAM density; (A) low (<25%) and (B) high (25% to 70%) TAM density.

• 

  Fig. 2 Morphologies of CD68-positive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). CD68+ cells (brownish) with thin elongated cytoplasmic extensions were intercalated into the papillary structures of PTCs. TAMs formed a distinctive canopy-like structure over cuboidal tumor cells (×400).

• 

  Fig. 3 Diverse immunohistochemical staining of CD68 in thyroid tissues. (A) Normal thyroid tissues show negative staining (×200). (B) Diffuse and (C) focal clustered staining in papillary thyroid carcinomas (×200).

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