Correlation of tumor-associated macrophages and NK cells with bladder cancer size and T stage in patients with solitary low-grade urothelial carcinoma

• Published in: Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift Vol. 128; no. 7-8; pp. 248 - 252
• Main Authors: Krpina, Kristian, Babarović, Emina, Španjol, Josip, Đorđević, Gordana, Maurer, Tobias, Jonjić, Nives
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01.04.2016
• Subjects: Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor - immunology; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - immunology; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - pathology; Croatia - epidemiology; Cytokines - immunology; Endocrinology; Gastroenterology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - pathology; Macrophages - immunology; Macrophages - pathology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Grading; Original Article; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Prevalence; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Statistics as Topic; Tumor Burden - immunology; Tumor Microenvironment - immunology; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - epidemiology; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - immunology; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - pathology; tumor microenviroment; tumor size; non-muscle invasive bladder cancer; macrophages; NK cells; T category
• ISSN: 0043-5325; 1613-7671
• DOI: 10.1007/s00508-015-0907-3

Summary 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). Patients and 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. Conclusion 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.