Prognostic significance of macrophage polarization in early stage oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Polarization of tumor infiltrating macrophages is associated with the prognosis of solid malignancies and correlates with the occurrence of lymph node metastases in oral squamous cell carcinomas (oscc). Early stage (T1/T2, N0) oscc are characterized by a good prognosis and can be cured by surgery. The postoperative regime usually contains no adjuvant radio-/chemotherapy. The current pilot study was conducted to elucidate whether macrophage polarization in tumor resection specimens and diagnostic biopsies of early stage oscc is associated with tumor outcome. Patients with T1/T2, N0, and R0>5mm oscc without adjuvant therapy and 3-year follow-up after tumor resection were retrospectively selected. Tissue microarrays (TMA) containing diagnostic biopsies (n=17) and tumor resection specimens (n=17) were processed for immunohistochemistry in this pilot study to detect CD68-, CD11c-, CD163- and MRC1-positive macrophages. Samples were digitized, and the expression of macrophage markers was quantitatively analyzed. High infiltration of M2 polarized macrophages correlated with poor tumor outcome in early stage (T1/T2, N0) oscc. This correlation was observed in tumor resection specimens, but was also observed in diagnostic biopsies. M2 macrophage polarization in biopsies - but not in tumor resection samples - correlated with high scores in tumor grading. Macrophage polarization in early stage oscc is a potential prognostic marker for tumor outcome. The correlation of M2 polarized macrophages with tumor outcome can already be detected in the initial biopsies. Furthermore, M2 polarization of macrophages in biopsies is associated with an increased dedifferentiation.

Weber M ，Iliopoulos C ，Moebius P ，Büttner-Herold M ，Amann K ，Ries J ，Preidl R ，Neukam FW ，Wehrhan F ... -  《-》

Small oral squamous cell carcinomas with nodal lymphogenic metastasis show increased infiltration of M2 polarized macrophages--an immunohistochemical analysis.

In solid malignancies the influence of immunological parameters - especially of macrophages - on invasiveness, metastatic potential and prognosis has been shown. There are no studies quantitatively analysing the macrophage polarization in oral squamous cell carcinoma (oscc). The aim of this study was to correlate macrophage polarization in the epithelial and stromal compartment of oscc with histopathologic parameters. T1 and T2 oscc samples (n = 34) were used. Automated immunohistochemical staining detected CD68, CD11c, CD163 and MRC1 positive cells. All samples were completely digitalized using whole slide imaging and the number of stained cells per area was assessed quantitatively. Primary tumours with lymphogenic metastasis (N+) showed a significantly (p < 0.05) increased count of CD68, CD11c, CD163 and MRC1 positive cells in the epithelial fraction compared to N0 tumours. The ratio of CD163 positive cells (M2 macrophages) to CD68 positive cells (M1 and M2 macrophages) was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in N+ tumours. An increased macrophage infiltration and an increased M2 polarization in primary oral squamous cell carcinomas with lymphogenic metastasis was shown. Macrophages that migrated into the epithelial tumour fraction seem to be of special biological importance. The results indicate a central role of macrophages in the progression of oscc.

Weber M ，Büttner-Herold M ，Hyckel P ，Moebius P ，Distel L ，Ries J ，Amann K ，Neukam FW ，Wehrhan F ... -  《-》

Galectin 3 expression in primary oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Weber M ，Büttner-Herold M ，Distel L ，Ries J ，Moebius P ，Preidl R ，Geppert CI ，Neukam FW ，Wehrhan F ... -  《BMC CANCER》

Galectin 3 expression in regional lymph nodes and lymph node metastases of oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Wehrhan F ，Büttner-Herold M ，Distel L ，Ries J ，Moebius P ，Preidl R ，Geppert CI ，Neukam FW ，Kesting M ，Weber M ... -  《BMC CANCER》

Macrophage polarisation changes within the time between diagnostic biopsy and tumour resection in oral squamous cell carcinomas--an immunohistochemical study.

Weber M ，Moebius P ，Büttner-Herold M ，Amann K ，Preidl R ，Neukam FW ，Wehrhan F ... -  《-》