Effect of tumor-associated macrophages on endometrioid adenocarcinoma tissues

OBJECTIVE:To explore initially effect of tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs) on endometrioid adenocarcinoma tissues. METHODS:Immunohistochemistry technique was used to detect CD68,matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2),estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression in tumor tissues and margin tissues of 67 specimens of endometrioid adenocarcinoma. RESULTS:Both of the number of margin TAMs and intratumor TAMs with invasing myometrium ≥1/2 were significantly higher than that with invasing myometrium 1/2 and preinvasive cases (P=0.035; P=0.025),and the number of margin TAMs was significantly higher in cases with pelvic lymph node metastases(P=0.001). The number of margin TAMs with MMP-2 positive cases was significantly higher than MMP-2 negative cases in margin tissues (P=0.014). There was no significant correlation between ER (PR) and TAMs in tumor tissues and margin tissues in this study(P0.05). CONCLUSIONS:TAMs plays a crucial role in endometrioid adenocarcinoma invasion,and metastases. It is helpful to endometrial carcinoma patients if the relationship between TAMs and gonadal hormone receptor in endometrioid adenocarcinoma to be explored early.