Correlation of tumor-associated macrophages and NK cells with bladder cancer size and T stage in patients with solitary low-grade urothelial carcinoma.
Kristian Krpina, Emina Babarović, Josip Španjol, Gordana Đorđević, Tobias Maurer, Nives Jonjić
Author Information
Kristian Krpina: Department of Urology, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Tome Strižića 3, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia. krpinak@gmail.com.
Emina Babarović: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia.
Josip Španjol: Department of Urology, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Tome Strižića 3, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia.
Gordana Đorđević: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia.
Tobias Maurer: Department of Urology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, München, Germany.
Nives Jonjić: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to correlate the level of tumor-infiltrating immune cells with bladder cancer size and T category in patients with solitary low-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2006, 115 patients with solitary low-grade NMIBC after transurethral resection of the bladder without adjuvant therapy were retrospectively identified from the institutional database. Tumor specimens were retrieved and tissue microarrays were constructed. Immunhistochemical staining for tumor-infiltrating immune cells with anti-CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD56, CD68, and granzyme B (Gr B) was performed. RESULTS: Immune cells were predominantly observed within the cancer stroma. Statistically significant higher levels of CD56 cells in small tumors and CD68 cells in T1 tumors (p = 0.0310, 0.0151, respectively) were established. CONCLUSION: The current study propose a possible correlation of CD56+ and CD68+ cells with bladder cancer size and stage in patients with solitary low-grade NMIBC.
