The M1 form of tumor-associated macrophages in non-small cell lung cancer is positively associated with survival time

Table 2 Density and microlocalization of macrophages in non-small cell lung cancer

Macrophage (MΦ) density is presented as median (range) of cell number per mm². I +S represents median (range) of the macrophage density in the tumor islets and stroma, which is obtained based on macrophage number per mm² of the tumor sections and not a simple sum of the macrophage densities in the islets plus that in the stroma. [I +S] long/[I +S] short represents a ratio of the median macrophage density in the tumor islets and stroma of the long survival group versus that of the short survival group. Analyzed with Mann-Whitney nonparametric test, the M1 macrophage densities in the tumor islets, stroma, and I+S of patients with long survival time are significantly higher than those of patients with short survival time (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, and P < 0.001, respectively). The M2 macrophage densities in the tumor islets, stroma, and I+S of patients with long survival time are not significantly different from those of patients with short survival time (P = 0.526, P = 0.929, and P = 0.329, respectively). The M2 macrophage density is not significantly different from the M1 macrophage density in the tumor islets of patients with long survival time (P > 0.05). The M2 macrophage density in the tumor stroma of the long survival group and the M2 macrophage densities in the tumor islets or stroma of the short survival group are significantly higher than the corresponding M1 macrophage densities (P < 0.01).

ISSN: 1471-2407