[Prediction of Pathological Response to Chemotherapy in Esophageal Cancer by Fluorescent Multiplex...

To the effect of chemotherapy in cancer patients, in addition to direct cytotoxicity against cancer cells, contribution of tumor immune-mediated mechanisms have been reported. To elucidate the immune environment involved in the response to chemotherapy in esophageal cancer, we collected pre-treatment biopsy tissues from 86 patients, performed multiple staining with fluorescein-labeled tyramide, and analyzed lymphocytes and macrophages using a variable-wavelength filter fluorescence microscope to compare the effects of chemotherapy. Although there was no correlation with various T-cell fractions, high levels of CD163- or CD206-positive M2 macrophages (TAM) were significantly associated with chemotherapy non-responders. The results suggest that the combination of TAM inhibitors may be useful in overcoming chemotherapy resistance in esophageal cancer.