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Quantitative Immunohistochemistry of the Cellular Microenvironment in Patient Glioblastoma Resections
Published on: July 31, 2017
Perspectives on the immunologic microenvironment of astrocytomas
Iman H Hewedi1, Nehal A Radwan, Lobna S Shash
1Departments of Pathology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Cancer Management and Research
|September 17, 2013
Summary
Glioblastomas show a distinct immune microenvironment with a high prevalence of macrophages (CD68-positive cells). Targeting these macrophages is crucial for developing new glioblastoma therapies and understanding antitumor immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Immunology
- Tumor Biology
Background:
- Astrocytomas feature dynamic inflammatory cell infiltrates, suggesting a role in tumor biology.
- Understanding the immunobiology of astrocytomas requires evaluating their inflammatory cell infiltrate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the inflammatory cell infiltrate in astrocytic tumors.
- To better understand the immunobiology of astrocytomas.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of CD68, CD3, and CD20 expression in 21 glioblastomas, 21 anaplastic astrocytomas, 13 diffuse astrocytomas, and 18 pilocytic astrocytomas.
- Classification of inflammatory infiltrate based on perivascular and intratumoral location.
- Semiquantitative grading of inflammatory infiltrate.
Main Results:
- CD68-positive infiltrate was significantly more prevalent perivascularly and intratumorally in glioblastomas compared to other astrocytic tumors.
- Intratumoral CD3-positive infiltrate was exclusively associated with glioblastoma among diffusely infiltrating astrocytomas.
- CD20-positive infiltrate was rarely detected, only in the perivascular space of one diffuse astrocytoma case.
Conclusions:
- Glioblastoma exhibits a unique immune microenvironment characterized by a high prevalence of macrophages (CD68-positive cells).
- Novel glioblastoma therapies should consider targeting the CD68-positive macrophage population.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the role of macrophages in generating an antitumor immune response in glioblastoma.
