[Prognostic significance of tumor-associated macrophage infiltration in advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration promotes the progression of various malignancies. This study was to investigate the influence of TAM infiltration on the survival and prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer. METHODS The expression of CD68, a TAM-specific marker, in 67 specimens of ovarian cancer and 22 specimens of benign ovarian lesion was detected by SP immunohistochemistry to investigate the density of TAM. The correlation of TAM density to the prognosis of ovarian cancer was analyzed. Cox multivariate proportional hazard model was used to analyze prognostic factors of ovarian cancer. RESULTS Observing under x 400 lens, the mean density of TAM was significantly higher in ovarian cancer than in benign ovarian lesions (57.7 vs. 25.3 per vision field, p<0.01). The 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in low-density TAM group than in high-density TAM group of ovarian cancer patients (73.3% vs. 41.2%, p=0.01). Univariate analysis found that TAM infiltration was more obvious in serous carcinoma, moderately and poorly differentiated carcinoma and in patients aged >or=40 than in the counterparts. Multivariate analysis revealed that histological grade and TAM infiltration status are independent predictors for overall survival. CONCLUSION TAM infiltration is obvious in advanced ovarian cancer, which indicates poor prognosis.