Accelerated partial breast irradiation: Macrophage polarisation shift classification identifies high-risk tumours in early hormone receptor-positive breast cancer

Schnellhardt S, Erber R, Büttner-Herold M, Rosahl MC, Ott O, Strnad V, Beckmann M, King L, Hartmann A, Fietkau R, Distel L (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Cancers MDPI

Book Volume: 12

Article Number: 446

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.3390/cancers12020446

Abstract

Studies have demonstrated correlations between accumulations of tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), especially of M2-like phenotype, and increased mortality in advanced breast cancer. We investigated the prognostic potential of both main macrophage phenotypes in early hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. The studied cohort of 136 patients participated in an institutional APBI phase II trial. Patient selection was characterized by HR+, small tumour size and no metastasis. Tissue microarrays from pre-RT resection samples were double stained for CD68/CD163 using immunohistochemistry. CD68+/CD163− cells were considered M1-like macrophages and CD68+/CD163+ was representative of M2-like macrophages. M1 and M2 macrophage densities were analysed semi-automatically in the stromal and intraepithelial tumour compartment. Low M1 and high M2 densities were strongly associated with decreased disease-free survival (DFS). Combined TAM phenotype densities were studied after defining a macrophage shift classification: M1-shifted (M1 high, M2 low) and non-shifted (M1 low, M2 low; M1 high, M2 high) tumours entailed a favourable outcome. In contrast, M2-shifted (M1 low, M2 high) TAM populations were associated with extremely reduced DFS. Thus, the full predictive potential of TAMs was revealed in a combined analysis of both phenotypes. The M2-shifted subgroup of tumours is classified as high-risk and probably not suitable for partial breast irradiation.

Authors with CRIS profile

Ramona Erber Institute of Pathology Maike Büttner-Herold Medizinische Fakultät Oliver Ott Medizinische Fakultät Matthias Beckmann Lehrstuhl für Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde Arndt Hartmann Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine Pathologie und Pathologische Anatomie Rainer Fietkau Lehrstuhl für Strahlentherapie Luitpold Distel Department of Radiation Oncology

Involved external institutions

University of Queensland AU Australia (AU)

How to cite

APA:

Schnellhardt, S., Erber, R., Büttner-Herold, M., Rosahl, M.C., Ott, O., Strnad, V.,... Distel, L. (2020). Accelerated partial breast irradiation: Macrophage polarisation shift classification identifies high-risk tumours in early hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Cancers, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12020446

MLA:

Schnellhardt, Sören, et al. "Accelerated partial breast irradiation: Macrophage polarisation shift classification identifies high-risk tumours in early hormone receptor-positive breast cancer." Cancers 12.2 (2020).

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