High expression of heme oxygenase-1 in tumor-associated macrophages characterizes a poor-prognosis subtype in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Aging (Albany NY). 2021 Feb 11;13(4):5674-5685. doi: 10.18632/aging.202492. Epub 2021 Feb 11.

Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are important components of the tumor microenvironment, which are characterized by pro-tumor M2 phenotype and correlate with poor survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) plays a crucial role in macrophage polarization toward M2 phenotype, but its prognosis significance in NPC has been rarely determined. To gain insights into the HO-1 expression profile and to determine the clinical significance of HO-1 in NPC, we performed immunohistochemistry analyses in 126 NPC specimens. CD163, a highly specific marker of M2 macrophages, was used as a surrogate for the polarization state of TAMs. Our results showed that high expression of HO-1 and CD163 were detected in TAMs for 57.9% (73/126) and 61.9% (78/126) of the studied patients, and both of them were significantly associated with worse survival. Additionally, a significant correlation between the intensities of HO-1 and CD163 was identified, and HO-1 exhibited a superior ability in predicting survival compared with CD163. Our study revealed for the first time that overexpression of HO-1 characterized a poor-prognosis subtype in NPC. Individualized therapy targeting HO-1 might serve as a promising treatment modality for NPC.

Keywords: CD163; heme oxygenase-1; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; prognostic significance; tumor-associated macrophages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / metabolism
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • China / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma / diagnosis
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma / enzymology*
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma / mortality
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CD163 antigen
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • HMOX1 protein, human
  • Heme Oxygenase-1