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Cancer‐associated fibroblasts and CD163‐positive macrophages in oral squamous cell carcinoma: their clinicopathological and prognostic significance
Author(s) -
Fujii Nobuyuki,
Shomori Kohei,
Shiomi Tatsushi,
Nakabayashi Motoki,
Takeda Chikako,
Ryoke Kazuo,
Ito Hisao
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2012.01127.x
Subject(s) - cd163 , cd68 , stromal cell , medicine , cancer , cancer associated fibroblasts , metastasis , pathology , macrophage , oncology , immunohistochemistry , biology , biochemistry , in vitro
J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41 : 444–451 Background: Stromal cells are believed to affect cancer invasion and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and the incidence of tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), focusing on clinicopathological factors and patient prognosis, as well as cancer invasion. Methods: The study included 108 patients with OSCC. Anti‐α‐smooth muscle actin, CD68, and CD163 antibodies were used to identify CAFs and TAMs. CAFs were divided into 4 grades on the basis of staining intensity: negative (0), scanty (1), focal (2), and abundant (3). The most intensive areas of macrophage concentration in each tumor invasive stroma were also evaluated. Results: The cancer specimens were divided into Grade 0/1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 on the basis of CAF grade. In addition, they were divided into low‐ and high‐grade groups on the basis of the number of CD68‐positive and CD163‐positive macrophages. The latter were significantly increased in the Grade 2 CAF group compared to the Grade 0/1 group ( P = 0.009). Kaplan–Meier and multivariate survival analyses revealed that Grade 2 CAFs ( P = 0.003) and high CD163‐positive macrophage levels ( P = 0.007) significantly correlated with a poor outcome in patients with OSCC, and that a high CD163‐positive macrophage level was a significant and an independent prognostic factor ( P = 0.045). Conclusions: Cancer‐associated fibroblasts and CD163‐positive macrophages may be potential prognostic predictors of OSCC.