Objectives To investigate the effects of the distribution of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) on prognosis in the patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Methods The number of CD68+ macrophages in 136 lung cancer nest and stroma was counted simultaneously by labelled streptavidin biotin method(LSAB）,and its correlation with patient postoperation prognosis was analyzed. Results CD68 macrophas were observed in both inside and around the cancer tissue,The mean TAMs in cancer stroma (36.00/HFP) was higher than that in cancer nest (23.80/HFP,Plt;0.05). Mean TAMs in nest of stage Ⅰ＋Ⅱ cancer was significantly higher than that of stageⅢ＋Ⅳ cancer（32.60/HFP vs. 14.80/HFP,Plt;0.05）,and mean TAMs in stroma of stage Ⅰ＋Ⅱ cancer was significantly lower than that of stage Ⅲ＋Ⅳ cancer（24.30/HFP vs. 47.60/HFP,Plt;0.05）.The number of TAMs in cancer nest and the ratio of nest TAMs /stoma TAMs were both positively correlated with the patient survival time (rs=0.510, 0.633, respectively). Otherwise the number of TAMs in cancer stroma was negatively correlated with the patient survival time (rs=-0.187). Five-year survival rate in patients with high density TAMs in cancer nest was significantly higher than that in patients with low density TAMs (51.4% vs. 11.1%, Plt;0.05), while reverse correlation between TAMs in cancer stroma and patient 5-year survival rate was observed (18.9% vs. 44.4%,Plt;0.05). And 5 year suvival rate in patients with high ratio of nest/stroma TAMs was higher than that with low ratio (58.1% vs.4.2%,Plt;0.01). Conclusion Cox regressive prognostic analysis showed that the higher the nest/stroma TAMs ratio, the higher probability of the patients survival time. While the higher number of TAMs in the cancer stroma, the lower probability of the patients survival time. Our results showed that distribution pattern of TAMs in cancer nest and cancer stroma could possibly be used to estimate the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
This patient was a 47-year female who underwent carinal resection and reconstruction because of left main bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma. She underwent four cycles chemotherapy when recovering from surgery because of subcarinal lymph node metastasis. However, the patient suffered from recurred productive cough and dyspnea during chemotherapy. Bronchoscopic assessment revealed stenosis at the reconstructed carina and left main bronchus five months after surgery. The granulation tissues of the left main bronchus showed no evidence of cancer recurrence. After repeated bronchoscopic resection of granulation tissue combined with bronchial stent placement, the left main bronchial stenosis gradually worsened with granulation tissue growth. Three acid-fast bacilli were found in the granulation tissue harvested ten months after surgery. The reason of postoperative bronchostenosis was confirmed as endobronchial tuberculosis, and antitubercular agents were added. Unfortunately, she had persistent left main bronchostenosis due to irreversible destruction and left pulmonary atelectasis thereafter. Therefore, for the recurring anastomotic granulomas after tracheobronchial reconstruction, the possibility of tuberculosis infection should be considered.