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Author Spotlight: Advancing Prostate Cancer Research Through Improved Tissue Sampling and Biobanking
Published on: November 17, 2023
Association between tumor-associated macrophage infiltration, high grade prostate cancer, and biochemical recurrence
Kiran Gollapudi1, Colette Galet, Tristan Grogan
1Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California.
Background:
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a key component of the inflammatory microenvironment. Their role in prostate cancer development and progression remains unclear. We examined whether the amount of TAMs in prostate cancer is: 1) higher than prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and benign tissue 2) associated with poorly differentiated disease, and 3) predictive of biochemical recurrence among surgically treated men.
Methods:
A tissue microarray (TMA) of prostatectomy specimens from 332 patients was stained for CD68, a TAM marker. A separate TMA was used for validation. Associations between mean TAMs in cancer cores and PSA recurrence were determined by Cox proportional hazards models after adjusting for age, preoperative PSA, race, body mass index, pathologic Gleason sum, seminal vesicle invasion, extracapsular extension, and margin status.
Results:
Mean TAM number was higher in cancer versus PIN and benign tissue (p<0.0001). Mean TAM number was higher in Gleason grade 4 cores vs. Gleason grade 3 cores (p=0.003). On multivariable analysis, no association was observed between mean TAM number per cancer core and biochemical recurrence in either cohort.
Conclusion:
Mean TAM number was higher in cancer cores vs. PIN and benign tissue, and higher in high grade prostate cancer supporting the potential role of TAMs in prostate cancer development. However, TAMs were not associated with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy suggesting TAM counts do not provide independent prognostic value among surgically treated men. Further studies are required to elucidate the functional significance of TAMs in the prostate cancer microenvironment.
Insights
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) increase in prostate cancer and high-grade disease, but do not predict recurrence after surgery. Further research is needed to understand TAMs in prostate cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are key inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment.
- The specific role of TAMs in prostate cancer progression and recurrence is not fully understood.
- This study investigates TAM levels in relation to prostate cancer grade and recurrence risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare TAM levels in prostate cancer, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), and benign prostate tissue.
- To determine if TAM abundance correlates with prostate cancer differentiation (Gleason grade).
- To assess the predictive value of TAMs for biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy.
Main Methods:
- A tissue microarray (TMA) of 332 prostatectomy specimens was analyzed for CD68+ TAMs.
- TAM counts in cancer cores were compared to PIN and benign tissue.
- Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between TAMs and PSA recurrence, adjusting for clinical variables.
Main Results:
- Mean TAM number was significantly higher in prostate cancer compared to PIN and benign tissues (p<0.0001).
- Higher TAM counts were observed in Gleason grade 4 cores versus Gleason grade 3 cores (p=0.003).
- Multivariable analysis revealed no significant association between TAM number and biochemical recurrence.
Conclusions:
- Elevated TAMs in prostate cancer and higher-grade tumors suggest a role in disease development.
- TAM counts in prostatectomy specimens do not independently predict biochemical recurrence after surgery.
- Further investigation is necessary to clarify the functional role of TAMs in the prostate cancer microenvironment.
