Tumour-associated macrophages correlate with microvascular bed extension in colorectal cancer patients.
Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) represent pivotal components of tumour microenvironment promoting angiogenesis, tumour progression and invasion. In colorectal cancer (CRC), there are no conclusive data about the role of TAMs in angiogenesis-mediated tumour progression. In this study, we aimed to evaluate a correlation between TAMs, TAM immunostained area (TAMIA) microvascular density (MVD), endothelial area (EA) and cancer cells positive to VEGF-A (CCP-VEGF-A) in primary tumour tissue of locally advanced CRC patients undergone to radical surgery. A series of 76 patients with CRC were selected and evaluated by immunohistochemistry and image analysis. An anti-CD68 antibody was employed to assess TAMs and TAMIA expression, an anti-CD34 antibody was utilized to detect MVD and EA expression, whereas an anti-VEGF-A antibody was used to detect CCP-VEGF-A; then, tumour sections were evaluated by image analysis methods. The mean ± S.D. of TAMs, MVD and CCP-VEGF-A was 65.58 ± 21.14, 28.53 ± 7.75 and 63% ± 37%, respectively; the mean ± S.D. of TAMIA and EA was 438.37 ± 124.14μ(2) and 186.73 ± 67.22μ(2) , respectively. A significant correlation was found between TAMs, TAMIA, MVD and EA each other (r ranging from 0.69 to 0.84; P ranging from 0.000 to 0.004). The high level of expression of TAMs and TAMIA in tumour tissue and the significant correlation with both MVD and EA illustrate that TAMs could represent a marker that plays an important role in promoting angiogenesis-mediated CRC. In this context, novel agents killing TAMs might be evaluated in clinical trials as a new anti-angiogenic approach.
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Unit with Integrated Section of Translational Medical Oncology, National Cancer Research Centre, 'Giovanni Paolo II', Bari, Italy.
Ilaria
I
Marech
Chair of Clinical Surgery, University of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia' Medical School, Catanzaro, Italy.
Michele
M
Ammendola
Chair of Clinical Surgery, University of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia' Medical School, Catanzaro, Italy.
Rosario
R
Sacco
Chair of Clinical Surgery, University of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia' Medical School, Catanzaro, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Sammarco
Chair of Clinical Surgery, University of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia' Medical School, Catanzaro, Italy.
Valeria
V
Zuccalà
Chair of Pathology, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy.
Nicola
N
Zizzo
Department of Health Science, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance Unit and Pharmacovigilance's Centre Calabria Region, University of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia' Medical School, Catanzaro, Italy.
Christian
C
Leporini
Chair of Clinical Surgery, University of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia' Medical School, Catanzaro, Italy.
Maria
M
Luposella
Chair of Pathology, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy.
Rosa
R
Patruno
Medical Oncology Unit 'S. Francesco di Paola' Hospital, Cosenza, Italy.
Gianfranco
G
Filippelli
Department of Health Science, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance Unit and Pharmacovigilance's Centre Calabria Region, University of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia' Medical School, Catanzaro, Italy.
Emilio
E
Russo
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Unit with Integrated Section of Translational Medical Oncology, National Cancer Research Centre, 'Giovanni Paolo II', Bari, Italy.
Mariangela
M
Porcelli
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Unit with Integrated Section of Translational Medical Oncology, National Cancer Research Centre, 'Giovanni Paolo II', Bari, Italy.
Cosmo Damiano
CD
Gadaleta
Department of Health Science, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance Unit and Pharmacovigilance's Centre Calabria Region, University of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia' Medical School, Catanzaro, Italy.
Giovambattista
G
De Sarro
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Unit with Integrated Section of Translational Medical Oncology, National Cancer Research Centre, 'Giovanni Paolo II', Bari, Italy.
Girolamo
G
Ranieri
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
angiogenesis; colorectal cancer; novel anti-angiogenic approach; tumour-associated macrophages