Tumor-associated macrophages: the double-edged sword in cancer progression.
OBJECTIVE
Inflammation plays a critical role in cancer progression. In this study we investigate the pro-tumorigenic activities and gene expression profiles of lung cancer cells after interaction with macrophages.


METHODS
We measured intratumoral microvessel counts and macrophage density in 41 lung cancer tumor specimens and correlated these with the patients' clinical outcome. The interaction between macrophages and cancer cell lines was assessed using a transwell coculture system. The invasive potential was evaluated by in vitro invasion assay. The matrix-degrading activity was assayed by gelatin zymography. The microarray was applied to a large-scale analysis of the genes involved in the interaction, as well as to monitor the gene expression profiles of lung cancer cells responding to anti-inflammatory drugs in cocultures.


RESULTS
The macrophage density positively correlated with microvessel counts and negatively correlated with patient relapse-free survival (P < .05). After coculture with macrophages, lung cancer cell lines exhibited higher invasive potentials and matrix-degrading activities. We identified 50 genes by microarray that were upregulated more than two-fold in cancer cells after coculture. Northern blot analyses confirmed some gene expression such as interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and matrix metalloproteinase 9. The two-dimensional hierarchical clustering also demonstrated that the gene expression profiles of lung cancer cells responding to various anti-inflammatory drugs in cocultures are distinct.


CONCLUSIONS
The interaction of lung cancer cells and macrophages can promote the invasiveness and matrix-degrading activity of cancer cells. Our results also suggest that a great diversity of gene expression occurs in this interaction, which may assist us in understanding the process of cancer metastasis.
Chen
Jeremy J W
JJ
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, People's Republic of China.
Lin
Yi-Chen
YC
Yao
Pei-Li
PL
Yuan
Ang
A
Chen
Hsang-Yu
HY
Shun
Chia-Tung
CT
Tsai
Meng-Feng
MF
Chen
Chun-Houh
CH
Yang
Pan-Chyr
PC
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D018093:Gelatinases; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9