In situ evidence of neoplastic cell phagocytosis by macrophages in papillary thyroid cancer

We evaluated the occurrence, tissue distribution, and prognostic value of tumor-associated macrophages in 121 papillary thyroid carcinomas using immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD68 antibody in archival paraffin-embedded sections. Lymphocytic infiltration and dendritic cell presence were also...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 1997-05, Vol.82 (5), p.1615-1620
Main Authors: FIUMARA, A, BELFIORE, A, RUSSO, G, SALOMONE, E, SANTONOCITO, G. M, IPPOLITO, O, VIGNERI, R, GANGEMI, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Carcinoma, Papillary - immunology
Carcinoma, Papillary - pathology
Dendritic Cells - pathology
Endocrinopathies
Female
Humans
Lymphocytes - pathology
Macrophages - immunology
Male
Malignant tumors
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Phagocytosis
Thyroid Neoplasms - immunology
Thyroid Neoplasms - pathology
Thyroid. Thyroid axis (diseases)
Thyroiditis, Autoimmune - immunology
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Summary:We evaluated the occurrence, tissue distribution, and prognostic value of tumor-associated macrophages in 121 papillary thyroid carcinomas using immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD68 antibody in archival paraffin-embedded sections. Lymphocytic infiltration and dendritic cell presence were also evaluated. Three groups were identified according to the presence and characteristics of macrophages: 1) tumors without evidence of infiltrating macrophages: (n = 35); 2) tumors with infiltrating macrophages but no evidence of neoplastic cells phagocytosis (n = 68); and 3) tumors with infiltrating macrophages and in situ evidence of active neoplastic cell phagocytosis (n = 18). Neoplastic cell phagocytosis by macrophages was positively correlated with both lymphocytic infiltration and dendritic cells (P = 0.0000), whereas it was negatively correlated with vascular invasion (P = 0.0032). Distant metastases developed in none of the 18 tumors with neoplastic cell phagocytosis, but occurred in 15 of 103 of the remaining tumors (P = 0.0647) and were significantly and negatively associated with lymphocytic infiltration or dendritic cells. The present study indicates, therefore, that immune reaction, involving neoplastic cell phagocytosis by macrophages and lymphocytic infiltration, plays a role in the development of distant metastases in patients with papillary thyroid cancer.
ISSN:0021-972X
1945-7197
DOI:10.1210/jc.82.5.1615