title: Correlation of tumor-associated macrophages and NK cells with bladder cancer size and T stage in patients with solitary low-grade urothelial carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to correlate the level of tumor-infiltrating immune cells with bladder cancer size and T category in patients with solitary low-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1996 and 2006, 115 patients with solitary low-grade NMIBC after transurethral resection of the bladder without adjuvant therapy were retrospectively identified from the institutional database. Tumor specimens were retrieved and tissue microarrays were constructed. Immunhistochemical staining for tumor-infiltrating immune cells with anti-CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD56, CD68, and granzyme B (Gr B) was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immune cells were predominantly observed within the cancer stroma. Statistically significant higher levels of CD56 cells in small tumors and CD68 cells in T1 tumors (p = 0.0310, 0.0151, respectively) were established.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study propose a possible correlation of CD56+ and CD68+ cells with bladder cancer size and stage in patients with solitary low-grade NMIBC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Tome Strižića 3, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia. krpinak@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krpina
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Emina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Babarović
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Tome Strižića 3, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Španjol
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Đorđević
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Nives
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jonjić
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000276:immunology; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000276:immunology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines
keywords: NK cells; T category; macrophages; non-muscle invasive bladder cancer; tumor microenviroment; tumor size