Infiltration of tumour-associated macrophages in prostate biopsy specimens is predictive of disease progression after hormonal therapy for prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
• To evaluate tumour-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration in prostate biopsy specimens as a possible prognostic factor for prostate cancer (PCa) after hormonal therapy.


METHODS
• Immunostaining of TAMs in prostate biopsy specimens was performed using a monoclonal antibody CD68 for 71 patients having PCa treated with hormonal therapy. • Six microscopic (×400) fields around the cancer foci were selected for TAM counting.


RESULTS
• The median value of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 50.1 ng/mL, and the median TAM count was 22. • Recurrence-free survival was significantly better in patients with fewer TAMs (<22) than in those with higher numbers of TAMs (≥22) (P < 0.001). • TAM count was higher in those with higher serum PSA (PSA), higher Gleason score, clinical T stage or those with PSA failure. Cox multivariate analysis showed that TAM count is one of the prognostic factors for PCa treated by hormonal therapy (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
• TAM infiltration in prostate needle biopsy specimens is a useful predictive factor for PSA failure or progression of PCa after hormonal therapy.
Department of Urology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. nono@uro.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Norio
N
Nonomura
Hitoshi
H
Takayama
Masashi
M
Nakayama
Yasutomo
Y
Nakai
Atsunari
A
Kawashima
Masatoshi
M
Mukai
Akira
A
Nagahara
Katsuyuki
K
Aozasa
Akira
A
Tsujimura
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000813:Anilides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009570:Nitriles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D014105:Tosyl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000813:Anilides; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009570:Nitriles; D014105:Tosyl Compounds; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; C053541:bicalutamide; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen