title: Increased angiogenic sprouting in poor prognosis FL is associated with elevated numbers of CD163+ macrophages within the immediate sprouting microenvironment.
abstract: Follicular lymphoma has considerable clinical heterogeneity, and there is a need for easily quantifiable prognostic biomarkers. Microvessel density has been shown to be a useful prognostic factor based on numerical assessment of vessel numbers within histologic sections in some studies, but assessment of tumor neovascularization through angiogenic sprouting may be more relevant. We therefore examined the smallest vessels, single-staining structures measuring less than 30 microm(2) in area, seen within histologic sections, and confirmed that they were neovascular angiogenic sprouts using extended focal imaging. Tissue microarrays composing diagnostic biopsies from patients at the extremes of survival of follicular lymphoma were analyzed with respect to numbers of these sprouts. This analysis revealed higher angiogenic activity in the poor prognostic group and demonstrated an association between increased sprouting and elevated numbers of infiltrating CD163(+) macrophages within the immediate microenvironment surrounding the neovascular sprout.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Oncology, Queen Mary University of London, Barts, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Clear
authors.forename: Abigail M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calaminici
authors.forename: Alan G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.forename: Kelly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hallam
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Finlay
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Macdougall
authors.forename: T Andrew
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lister
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gribben
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D000098902:CD163 Antigen
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000098902:CD163 Antigen; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface