title: Density of tumor-associated macrophages correlates with lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have recently been recognized as being important players in the tumoriogenesis of many cancers, including advanced thyroid cancer. However, a role in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most prevalent thyroid cancer, has not been established. We hypothesized that TAMs also facilitate tumor progression in PTC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated TAMs density in both benign thyroid lesions and PTC tumors by CD68 immunostaining. CD68-positive cell density was further associated with the clinicopathological characteristics of PTC patients. Finally, TAMs were isolated from PTC tumors and phenotyped by cytokine and receptor profiling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall density of TAMs was found to be significantly higher in PTC tumors, compared with thyroid goiter and follicular adenoma. The density of TAMs was positively associated with lymph node metastasis in TNM (tumor-node-metastasis) stages III/VI compared with stages I/II. No association was observed in other common tumor features, including the BRAF mutation. The isolated TAMs presented with high levels of M2-associated cytokine and receptors, making M2 the predominant TAM phenotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TAMs may play a functional role in the progression of PTC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qing
authors.forename: Wei-Yuan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Li-Yun
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Xiao-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Qing
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jia-Cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ning
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D016207:Cytokines; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C482119:BRAF protein, human