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T lymphocytes, CD68-positive cells and vascularisation in thyroid carcinomas
G Herrmann1, P M Schumm-Draeger, C Müller
1Department of Pathology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology
|January 1, 1994
Summary
In thyroid cancer, increased immune cells (CD68, CD3, CD45RO) correlate with dedifferentiation. Despite this, tumor vascularization decreases in less differentiated cancers, suggesting functional heterogeneity impacts tumor growth.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Thyroid carcinomas exhibit varying degrees of differentiation, impacting prognosis.
- Tumor microenvironment, including immune cell infiltration and vascularization, plays a crucial role in cancer progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between immune cell infiltration (CD68, CD3, CD45RO) and vascularization (CD31) in thyroid carcinomas.
- To explore how these factors correlate with tumor differentiation and potentially influence tumor behavior.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of CD3, CD45RO, CD68, and CD31 expression in 75 thyroid carcinomas.
- Quantification of positive cells and blood vessels to assess immune cell density and vascularization.
- Correlation analysis between immune cell markers, vascularization, and tumor differentiation.
Main Results:
- Higher levels of CD68, CD3, and CD45RO-positive cells were associated with increased tumor dedifferentiation.
- Vascularization (CD31-positive vessels) showed a trend towards reduction with decreasing tumor differentiation.
- Positive correlations were observed between densities of CD68, CD3, CD45RO-positive cells and vascularization.
- A lack of positive correlation between tumor-infiltrating cells and vascularization in less differentiated tumors was noted.
Conclusions:
- Immune cell infiltration increases with dedifferentiation in thyroid carcinomas.
- Tumor vascularization decreases with dedifferentiation, contrary to expectations based on immune cell interactions.
- Functional heterogeneity of tumor cells may explain the dissociation between immune infiltration and vascularization in less differentiated thyroid cancers.