Correlation Of Tumor-Associated Macrophage And Micro-Lymphatic Vessel Density With Lymph Node Metastasis In Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the correlation and relationship between tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs),micro-lymphatic vessel density(MLVD)and lymph node metastasis and other clinical pathological features of papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC).Methods: Classic papillary thyroid carcinoma tissues were collected from patients with negative lymph node metastasis(PN0 group,32 cases)and positive lymph node metastasis(PN1 group,33 cases).MAX Vision immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of TAMs marker CD163 and lymphatic endothelial cell marker D2-40 in PTC tissues.the number of positive cells was counted by light microscopy,and then calculated TAMs density and MLVD values.The sta tistical software SPSS19.0 was used to analyze the data and related pathological features.Results:(1)The density of TAMs in different individual tumor tissues varied,with an density ranging from 0 to 208,The density in PTC tissues with a diameter ? 1 cm was 26.12±22.60,whereas with a diameter >1 cm was 56.46±54.02,there was a statistically difference between the two groups(P=0.03),but the density of TAMs was not correlated with other pathological features(such as lymph node metastasis,age,gender,multiple lesions,Hashimoto's thyroiditis,lesion dissemination and stage.)(P>0.05).(2)Micro-lymphatic vessels of PTC are mainly distributed in the periphery of tumors,especially in the fibrosis tissue of invasive border,and showed an expanding state,the intratumoral micro-lymphatic vessels are rare and mostly closed,the peritumoral MLVD was 7.09±6.18 and the intratumoral MLVD was 0.34±0.44.There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups(P<0.01).Compared with the PN0 group(4.14±3.24),peritumoral MLVD was significantly higher in the PN+ group(9.96±7.0)of PTC,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01).With the increase of PTC diameter [diameter ? 1cm(3.06±3.03)vs diameter>1cm(9.62±6.33)] ? the lesion dissemination [yes(10.59±7.26)vs no(5.43±4.84)]? the increase of stage [?and?stage(6.10±5.27)vs? and ? stage(11.48 ±8.05)],the peritumoral MLVD value increased with significant statistical significance(P<0.01).(3)TAMs density(44.79±46.81)positively correlated with peritumoral MLVD(7.09±6.18)(r = 0.407,P = 0.001).Conclusion:(1)TAMs density was correlated with PTC diameter;(2)Peritumoral MLVD was associated with PTC lymph node metastasis?tumor diameter?lesion dissemination and stage;(3)TAMs density positively correlated with Peritumoral MLVD,both of which are expected to be potential risk markers for lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis of PTC.