Correlation between the infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages in the tissues of breast carcinoma and the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factors

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between the infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) in breast cancer and the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF). Methods The expressions of CD163 (TAM marker) and VEGF in 45 postoperative tissue specimens of primary breast cancer in Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University from January 2014 to January 2018 were examined by using immunohistochemistry EnVision method. Then TAM was counted under light microscope and the expression of VEGF was determined by using semi quantitative integration method. Correlation between the expression of TAM and VEGF and their relationships with clinicopathological parameters were also analyzed. Results TAM infiltration (the number of TAM under per high power field) in breast cancer patients (≤ 51 years old) was significantly more than that in breast cancer patients (> 51 years old) [(78.1±11.9)/HP vs. (69.7±14.0)/HP, t=2.167, P=0.036]. TAM infiltration in breast cancer patients with lymph node metastasis was more than that in breast cancer patients without lymph node metastasis [(79.2±11.8)/HP vs. (70.2±13.6)/HP, t=2.362, P=0.023]. The positive rate of VEGF in breast cancer with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that in breast cancer without lymph node metastasis [100.00% (20/20) vs. 68.00% (17/25), χ2= 5.749, P=0.017]. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the expression of VEGF was positively correlated with TAM infiltration (r 2=0.800, P < 0.05). Conclusion TAM infiltration and the expression of VEGF can be used to predict the malignant degree of breast cancer, and can be used as a potential intervention target for adjuvant therapy and clinical prognosis of breast cancer. Key words: Breast neoplasms; Tumor-associated macrophages; Vascular endothelial growth factors; Immunohistochemistry