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. 2013 Sep;28(3):192-8.
doi: 10.3803/EnM.2013.28.3.192. Epub 2013 Sep 13.

The expression of tumor-associated macrophages in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Seunghwan Kim  1 , Sun Wook Cho  2 , Hye Sook Min  3 , Kang Min Kim  4 , Gye Jeong Yeom  5 , Eun Young Kim  6 , Kyu Eun Lee  7 , Yeo Gyu Yun  6 , Do Joon Park  8 , Young Joo Park  8
Affiliations

The expression of tumor-associated macrophages in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Seunghwan Kim et al. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2013 Sep.

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.

Keywords: Thyroid cancer, papillary; Tumor size; Tumor-associated macrophages.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
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
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
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).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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