Tumor-infiltrating macrophages can predict favorable prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma after resection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prognostic value of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), individually or synergistically with CD45RO + memory T cells (T(M)), in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients following resection.


METHODS
The infiltration of TAM and T(M) was assessed by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarray containing 302 HCC specimens. Correlations between TAM/T(M) infiltration and clinicopathologic features, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
High TAM infiltration was associated with both improved DFS (P = 0.0021) and OS (P = 0.0481). Multivariate analysis identified TAM infiltration as independent prognostic factor for DFS (P = 0.004) and OS (P = 0.049). A second analysis clarified the synergistic effect of TAM&T(M) infiltration for DFS (P = 0.004) and OS (P = 0.040).


CONCLUSIONS
Both TAM infiltration alone and concomitant infiltration of TAM&T(M) are associated with improved DFS/OS, suggesting that TAM could protect HCC patients from recurrence/metastasis and prolong survival by distinct mechanisms.
Li
Yi-Wei
YW
Liver Cancer Institute, Zhong Shan Hospital and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, 200032, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Qiu
Shuang-Jian
SJ
Fan
Jia
J
Gao
Qiang
Q
Zhou
Jian
J
Xiao
Yong-Sheng
YS
Xu
Yang
Y
Wang
Xiao-Ying
XY
Sun
Jian
J
Huang
Xiao-Wu
XW
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D017741:Survivors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens
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