Impact of thymidine phosphorylase and CD163 expression on prognosis in stage II colorectal cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are known to facilitate colorectal cancer (CRC) growth. High macrophage infiltration in thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP) expressing CRC may correspond to poor prognosis. The prognostic impact of the expression CD163, a receptor associated with TAM, and TYMP in stroma, respectively, tumor tissue is not yet established. The aim of this study was to identify the potential associations between TYMP and CD163 expression levels and relapse-free survival (RFS) of patients with stage II CRC, and if microdissection is of importance.

METHODS:

Stage II CRC patients, radically resected with relapse (n = 104), were matched to patients with a 5-year relapse-free follow-up (n = 206). Gene expression of TYMP and CD163 was analyzed in snap-frozen tumor tissues and in microdissected formalin-fixed tumor tissues separated into tumor epithelium and stroma.

RESULTS:

TYMP expression was high in poorly differentiated tumors, right-sided CRC, and tumors with high microsatellite instability CD163-expressing macrophages near tumor epithelial cells had high expression in poorly differentiated and T4 tumors. High TYMP expression in tumor epithelial cells was in the multivariate analyses associated with shorter relapse-free survival (hazard ratio 1.66; 95% confidence interval: 1.09-2.56; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

TYMP expression in tumor epithelial cells was associated with RFS and emphasizes the need for tissue microdissection. Additional studies are needed to establish whether TYMP and CD163 could add clinically relevant information to identify high-risk stage II patients that could benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

• Authors: Donia Kaidi, Louis Szeponik, Ulf Yrlid, Yvonne Wettergren, Elinor Bexe Lindskog
• Journal: Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico (Clin Transl Oncol) Vol. 24 Issue 9 Pg. 1818-1827 (Sep 2022) ISSN: 1699-3055 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 35567733 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD
• Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• CD163 antigen
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• TYMP protein, human
• Thymidine Phosphorylase

Topics

• Antigens, CD (genetics)
• Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic (genetics)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (genetics, metabolism)
• Colorectal Neoplasms (pathology)
• Humans
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (pathology)
• Prognosis
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• Thymidine Phosphorylase (genetics)