An increase of M2 macrophages predicts poor prognosis in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone.

Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and regulatory T-cells (Tregs) play an important role in the tumor microenvironment. Here, we investigated the prognostic implications of TAMs and Tregs in 165 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) using immunohistochemistry. Survival analysis was performed among 109 DLBCLs treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP). An increase in CD68 (+) cells was related to improved overall survival (OS) (p = 0.033). By contrast, an increased number of CD163 (+) cells and a higher ratio of CD163/CD68 (+) cells were significantly associated with shorter OS (p = 0.041 and 0.003) and progression-free survival (PFS) (p < 0.001 and 0.002). Patients with increased Tregs tended to have a better prognosis. In multivariate analysis, an increased ratio of CD163/CD68 (+) cells was an independent predictor of shorter OS and PFS. These results suggest that M2 macrophages might have a lymphoma-promoting function in DLBCL and predict poor clinical outcome. Therapeutic approaches targeting M2 macrophages would be valuable for the management of DLBCL in the R era.

• Authors: Soo Jeong Nam, Heounjeong Go, Jin Ho Paik, Tae Min Kim, Dae Seog Heo, Chul Woo Kim, Yoon Kyung Jeon
• Journal: Leukemia & lymphoma (Leuk Lymphoma) Vol. 55 Issue 11 Pg. 2466-76 (Nov 2014) ISSN: 1029-2403 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24397616 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
• Antigens, CD
• Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
• CD163 antigen
• CD68 antigen, human
• FOXP3 protein, human
• Forkhead Transcription Factors
• MSR1 protein, human
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• Scavenger Receptors, Class A
• Rituximab
• Vincristine
• Doxorubicin
• Cyclophosphamide
• Prednisone

Topics

• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived (administration & dosage)
• Antigens, CD (metabolism)
• Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic (metabolism)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Cyclophosphamide (administration & dosage)
• Disease-Free Survival
• Doxorubicin (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Forkhead Transcription Factors (metabolism)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse (drug therapy, pathology)
• Macrophages (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multivariate Analysis
• Prednisone (administration & dosage)
• Prognosis
• Receptors, Cell Surface (metabolism)
• Rituximab
• Scavenger Receptors, Class A (metabolism)
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Treatment Outcome
• Vincristine (administration & dosage)