Title |
Activated macrophages containing tumor marker in colon carcinoma: immunohistochemical proof of a concept
|
---|---|
Published in |
Tumor Biology, December 2011
|
DOI | 10.1007/s13277-011-0269-z |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
T. J. E. Faber, D. Japink, M. P. G. Leers, M. N. Sosef, M. F. von Meyenfeldt, M. Nap |
Abstract |
The presence of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-containing activated macrophages has been demonstrated in peripheral blood from patients with colorectal carcinoma. Macrophages migrate from the circulation into the tissue, phagocytose debris, and return to the bloodstream. Hence it seems likely that activated macrophages containing tumor debris, i.e., tumor marker, are present in the stroma of colorectal carcinoma. After phagocytosis, they could follow a hematogenic or lymphogenic route to the peripheral blood. The aim of this study is to assess the presence of tumor marker-containing activated macrophages in the stroma of colon carcinoma and in regional lymph nodes. From 10 cases of colon carcinoma, samples of tumor tissue and metastasis-free lymph nodes were cut in serial sections and stained for CD68 to identify macrophages and for CEA, cytokeratin, or M30 presence. Slides were digitalised and visually inspected using two monitors, comparing the CD68 stain to the tumor marker stain to evaluate the presence of tumor marker-positive macrophages. Macrophages containing tumor marker could be identified in tumor stroma and in metastasis-free regional lymph nodes. The distribution varied for the different markers, CEA-positive macrophages being most abundant. The presence of macrophages containing tumor marker in the tumor stroma and lymph nodes from patients with colon carcinoma could be confirmed in this series using serial immunohistochemistry. This finding supports the concept of activated macrophages, after phagocytosing cell debris, being transported or migrating through the lymphatic system. These results support the potential of tumor marker-containing macrophages to serve as a marker for diagnosis and follow-up of colon cancer patients. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 1 | 3% |
Unknown | 30 | 97% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 10 | 32% |
Researcher | 8 | 26% |
Student > Bachelor | 5 | 16% |
Student > Master | 2 | 6% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 1 | 3% |
Other | 4 | 13% |
Unknown | 1 | 3% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 13 | 42% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 5 | 16% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 5 | 16% |
Mathematics | 2 | 6% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 1 | 3% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 5 | 16% |