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Updated: Dec 26, 2025
Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells From Human Prostate Cancer Samples
Published on: March 14, 2014
Polymorphonuclear MDSCs are enriched in the stroma and expanded in metastases of prostate cancer
Jiling Wen1,2, Gang Huang1,2, Sheng Liu3
1Department of Urology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
Abstract:
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells with polymorphonuclear morphology (PMN-MDSCs) contribute to the progression and immune evasion of prostate cancer. However, the spatial distribution of tumor-infiltrating PMN-MDSCs in primary and metastatic prostate cancer, especially in the context of comparison between the epithelial and stromal compartments of the tumor, has not been characterized. Here, we describe a multicolor immunofluorescence staining study of 90 primary tumors, 37 lymph node metastases (all with matched primary tumors) and 35 bone metastases using archived samples. CD11b+ CD15+ cells were identified as PMN-MDSCs and pan-cytokeratin+ cells were identified as prostate epithelial cells. We found that, in both primary tumor and metastases, PMN-MDSCs infiltrate much more readily in the stromal area compared with the epithelial area of the tumor regions. In comparison to the stromal area of primary tumors, the stromal area of either lymph node metastases or bone metastases was infiltrated with more PMN-MDSCs. In primary tumors, stromal PMN-MDSCs were associated with vascularization, segmented neutrophils, patient age and close juxtaposition to neoplastic epithelial cells. These results reveal the stroma rather than the epithelia of prostate cancer as the major hotbed for PMN-MDSCs and support the role of PMN-MDSCs in the metastatic progression of prostate cancer.
Insights
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells with polymorphonuclear morphology (PMN-MDSCs) primarily infiltrate the stroma, not the epithelium, in prostate cancer. This stromal enrichment of PMN-MDSCs is more pronounced in metastases, suggesting their role in cancer progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Myeloid-derived suppressor cells with polymorphonuclear morphology (PMN-MDSCs) are implicated in prostate cancer progression and immune evasion.
- The spatial distribution of PMN-MDSCs within tumor compartments (epithelial vs. stromal) in primary and metastatic prostate cancer remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the spatial distribution of tumor-infiltrating PMN-MDSCs in primary and metastatic prostate cancer.
- To compare PMN-MDSC infiltration in epithelial and stromal compartments of prostate tumors.
- To investigate associations of stromal PMN-MDSCs with clinicopathological features in primary tumors.
Main Methods:
- A multicolor immunofluorescence staining study was conducted on archived samples.
- 90 primary prostate tumors, 37 matched lymph node metastases, and 35 bone metastases were analyzed.
- PMN-MDSCs were identified as CD11b+ CD15+ cells, and prostate epithelial cells as pan-cytokeratin+ cells.
Main Results:
- PMN-MDSCs were found to infiltrate the stromal compartment more readily than the epithelial compartment in both primary tumors and metastases.
- Stromal PMN-MDSC infiltration was significantly higher in lymph node and bone metastases compared to primary tumors.
- In primary tumors, stromal PMN-MDSCs correlated with vascularization, segmented neutrophils, patient age, and proximity to neoplastic epithelial cells.
Conclusions:
- The tumor stroma, rather than the epithelia, serves as the primary niche for PMN-MDSCs in prostate cancer.
- These findings support the role of PMN-MDSCs in the metastatic progression of prostate cancer.
