CD163-positive cancer cells are potentially associated with high malignant potential in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

CD163 is preferentially expressed by monocyte/macrophages; however, recent studies using immunohistochemistry (IHC) have reported that some cancer cells also express CD163. In the present IHC study, we investigated CD163 staining of cancer cells and macrophages in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tissues and determined the relationship between cancer cell CD163 expression and clinical prognosis in patients with ccRCC. IHC for CD163 was performed in ccRCC tissues from 103 patients. CD163-positive cancer cells were detected in 35% of the patients (36/103); however, the positive signals on cancer cells were significantly lower than those on macrophages. CD163-positive cancer cells were preferentially detected in patients with high T classification, and females, and were significantly associated with shortened progression-free survival and a lower overall survival ratio. Notably, a high intensity of CD163-positive macrophage infiltration was detected in the CD163-positive cancer cell-high tumor areas. Although CD163 mRNA was detected in cultured macrophages, no CD163 mRNA was detected in two cultured RCC cell lines. The detailed mechanism by which a positive signal is detected on cancer cells has not been clarified. Detection of the CD163 antigen on cancer cells might be a useful marker for evaluating the clinical course of patients with ccRCC.

Cellular and physical microenvironments regulate the aggressiveness and sunitinib chemosensitivity of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

“…The dense infiltration of TAMs in cancer tissues is known to correlate strongly with a poor prognosis [31,32]. However, several reports have demonstrated that ccRCC attracts macrophages and induces monocyte differentiation into CD163‐positive macrophages [33,34] and that CD11c‐positive macrophages produce cytotoxic mediators and/or chemokines involved in tumor suppression and immune stimulation [35,36]. Similar to previous reports, our findings support an anti‐proliferative effect of CD11c‐positive macrophages on ccRCC.…”

Iron: An Essential Element of Cancer Metabolism

“…Studies in glioblastoma and leukemia have established a correlation between TfR2 expression and tumor grade, but TfR2 overexpression also increased sensitivity to chemotherapy and, thus, is associated to favorable prognosis [169,171]. Other proteins involved in the uptake of iron that show abnormally high expression in cancers include DMT1 as well as heme importers HCP1, HRG1, CD91, and CD163, which are associated to dismal prognosis [42,[172][173][174][175][176][177][178][179]. For instance, DMT1-imported iron was shown to activate cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and JAK1/STAT1, contributing to colorectal tumorigenesis, and DMT1 inhibitor impeded tumor growth in vivo [172].…”

Differences in intra-tumoral macrophage infiltration and radiotherapy response among intrinsic subtypes in pT1-T2 breast cancers treated with breast-conserving surgery

“…CD163 is a macrophage-specific transmembrane scavenger receptor and a marker of the M2-macrophage phenotype [43]. Macrophage traits in cancer cells, defined by CD163-expression, have been reported for several tumor types, among others renal cell carcinoma [44], breast [21], colorectal [13], and bladder cancers. Moreover, breast cancer cells also express other macrophage markers such as MAC387 [12], DAP12 [45], and CD45 [21].…”