P2 Correlation of macrophage polarization and Gal-3 expressing cells in oral squamous cell carcinomas with the occurrence of lymph node metastases. Issue 5 (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weber, M.; Büttner-Herold, M.; Möbius, P.; Ries, J.; Neukam, F.W.; Wehrhan, F.
• Is Part Of: Oral oncology. Volume 51:Issue 5(2015:May)
• Page Start: e42
• Page End: e43
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Mouth -- Cancer -- Periodicals; Mouth -- Tumors -- Periodicals; Mouth Diseases -- Periodicals; Mouth Neoplasms -- Periodicals; Bouche -- Cancer -- Périodiques; Bouche -- Tumeurs -- Périodiques; Tumeurs -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9943105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2015.02.050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-8375

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="ab005"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title id="st005">Background</title> <p id="sp005">TNM classification and grading describe tumorbiological parameters of the oral squamous cell carcinoma (oscc) only incompletely. In solid malignancies the influence of immunological parameters on invasiveness, metastatic potential and prognosis could be shown. There are no studies correlating macrophage polarization and Galectin-3 (Gal-3) expression in oscc specimens yet. The phylogenetically highly conserved glycoprotein Gal-3 is involved in the regulation of macrophage polarization (M1/M2). The aim of this study was to correlate macrophage polarization and Gal-3 expression of primary oscc with histopathological parameters (N-, L-, V-, Pn-status, grading).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st010">Material and Methods</title> <p id="sp010">Oscc tumor resection specimens (<italic>n</italic> = 30) were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Automated staining with an LSAB-kit was used to detect CD68, CD11c, CD163, MRC1 and Gal-3 positive cells. Complete digitalization of all samples using "whole slide imaging" and quantitatively assessment of the number of stained cells per area was performed. The expression of markers in the epithelial tumor compartment and in the stroma was considered separately. The study was funded by the ELAN-Fonds der FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (ELAN 12.01.02.1). Approval of ethics committee: (EK No. 45_12 Bc.).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st015">Results</title> <p id="sp015">In tumors with primary lymph node metastasis (N+) compared to N0 tumors, a significantly (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05) increased cell count of CD68, CD11c, CD163 and MRC1 positive cells in the epithelial fraction of the cancer tissue could be shown. The ratio between CD163 positive cells (indicating predominantly M2-macrophages) and CD68 positive cells (staining all macrophages) was significantly (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05) increased in N+ tumors compared to N0 neoplasms. The Gal-3 expression in the epithelial tumor compartment and in the stroma of the primary tumor was significantly (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05) increased in N+ cases.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st020">Conclusion</title> <p id="sp020">These results show an increased macrophage infiltration as well as an increased M2-polarization in primary lymphogenic metastatic oscc. In particular, the macrophages that migrated into the epithelial tumor fraction seem to be of special biological importance. Besides the TNM classification, immunological parameters could be used for the clinical and prognostic evaluation of oral squamous cell carcinomas. The results support the concept of a tumor-derived peripheral tolerance, because the immunomodulatory Gal-3 shows an increased expression in primary metastatic (N+) tumors.</p> </sec> </abstract>