A study of multinucleated giant cells in esophageal cancer

Hui Wang; Junjie Zhou; Jun Li; Yiqun Geng; Pei Meng; Changchun Ma; Ziqi Zhu; Weifeng Zhang; Liangli Hong; Yan Quan; Jiacong Wei; Qiongyi Huang; You Zhou; Zuoqing Su; Xiaoqing Zhu; Chuangzhen Chen; Shaobin Chen; Jiang Gu

doi:10.1016/j.clim.2020.108600

A study of multinucleated giant cells in esophageal cancer

Clin Immunol. 2021 Jan:222:108600. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2020.108600. Epub 2020 Nov 13.

Authors

Hui Wang¹, Junjie Zhou², Jun Li³, Yiqun Geng¹, Pei Meng⁴, Changchun Ma⁵, Ziqi Zhu¹, Weifeng Zhang¹, Liangli Hong¹, Yan Quan¹, Jiacong Wei⁶, Qiongyi Huang⁷, You Zhou², Zuoqing Su¹, Xiaoqing Zhu¹, Chuangzhen Chen⁵, Shaobin Chen⁸, Jiang Gu⁹

Affiliations

¹ Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
² Department of Pathology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
³ Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the University of Hong Kong -Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
⁴ Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Holland, the Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
⁶ Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
⁷ Department of Pathology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
⁸ Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
⁹ Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China; Jinxin Research Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Chengdu, Jinjiang Hospital for Maternal and Child Health Care, 66 Jingxiu Road, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: 2523381625@qq.com.

PMID: 33197619
DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2020.108600

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the occurrence, abundance, distribution, nature and clinical significance of multinucleated giant cell (MGC) in esophageal cancer.

Materials and methods: MGCs were examined with conventional pathology, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence in 107 esophageal cancer tissues. The findings were correlated to pathological diagnosis and clinical behavior of the cancers.

Results: MGCs were identified in 31.7% (34/107) of the cases. MGCs were positive for CD11c, CD11b, CD32, CD16, HLA-DR and MMP9, and negative for CD163, CD206 and CD64 giving a molecular profile of proinflammatory M1 but not immunosuppressive M2. MGCs were significantly related to decreased lymph node metastasis (p = 0.011), low pTNM stage (p = 0.044), favorable survival (p = 0.04), squamous cell cancer type rather than other histopathological subtypes (p = 0.020) and associated to better differentiation (p = 0.063).

Conclusions: MGCs belong to M1 macrophage and perform phagocytosis and scavenging of cancer cells that would benefit patients' survival and could serve as a prognostic marker.

Keywords: Esophageal cancer; MGC; Macrophage polarization; Phagocytosis; Prognosis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
China
Esophageal Neoplasms / diagnosis
Esophageal Neoplasms / immunology
Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology*
Esophagus / cytology*
Esophagus / immunology
Esophagus / pathology
Female
Giant Cells / immunology*
Humans
Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
Macrophages / immunology*
Male
Middle Aged
Phagocytosis / immunology*
Prognosis
Receptors, IgG / immunology

Substances

Fc gamma receptor IIC
Receptors, IgG