CD206 蛋白表达与三阴性乳腺癌患者免疫浸润及预后的关联

Background: Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) have a worse prognosis, but might respond to immunotherapies. Macrophages are plastic cells that can adopt various phenotypes and functions. Although they are a major immune population in TNBCs, the relationship between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and TNBC progression has been rarely explored, with controversial results. Methods: We evaluated the prognostic impact of TAMs, quantified by immunohistochemistry with anti-CD68, -IRF8, -CD163, and -CD206 antibodies, in a well-described cohort of 285 patients with non-metastatic TNBC. Results: CD68 (p = 0. 008), IRF8 (p = 0. 001), and CD163 (p < 0. 001) expression positively correlated with higher tumor grade, while CD206 was associated with smaller tumor size (p < 0. 001).

All macrophage markers were associated with higher tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte numbers and PD-L1 expression. Univariate survival analyses reported a significant positive correlation between CD163+ or CD206+ TAMs and relapse-free survival (respectively: HR = 0. 52 [0. 28−0. 97], p = 0. 027, and HR = 0. 51 [0. 31−0. 82], p = 0. 005), and between CD206+ TAMs and overall survival (HR = 0. 54 [0. 35−0.

83], p = 0. 005). In multivariate analysis, there was a trend for an association between CD206+ TAMs and relapse-free survival (HR = 0. 63 [0. 33−1. 04], p = 0. 073). Conclusions: These data suggest that CD206 expression defines a TAM subpopulation potentially associated with favorable outcomes in patients with TNBC. CD206 expression might identify an immune TNBC subgroup with specific therapeutic options.