Role of chronic macrophage activation in patients with primary breast cancer.

MYA SANDA THEIN; ALKA JAIN; MARIA CLARA INGARAMO; ANTIA KOHLI; NEAL FEDARKO

Chicago, Illinois

Congreso; 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting; 2012

American Society of Clinical Oncology

Background: Breast cancer progression has been associated with altered immune function and macrophage activation. Neopterin (Neo), a GTP metabolite, is secreted by interferon-γ activated macrophages. Chitotriosidase (ChT), a member of the glycosyl hydrolase family, is secreted by chronically activated macrophages. Osteopontin (OPN), a phosphorylated glycoprotein, produced by tumor and immune cells, is a modulator of macrophage activity and infiltration. OPN and neopterin have been studied separately as markers of solid malignancy including breast cancer. Methods: The purpose of our study was to test for correlations between breast cancer presence and stage with macrophage produced markers of acute (Neo), and chronic (ChT) macrophage activation as well as tumor/immune cell produced marker of macrophage infiltration (OPN). The study included 66 patients with primary breast cancer (Group I: 14 with metastatic disease) and 111 participants in a control group (Group II). Serum levels of OPN and Neo were measured by ELISA, while ChT levels in serum were measured by enzyme activity assays. Comparisons between groups were analyzed by Mann Whitney U test. Results: ChT and OPN levels were significantly higher in Group I compared to Group II (Table I). ChT was elevated at early stage disease while OPN increased with more advanced disease. Although Neo was not increased in patients with breast cancer, a subgroup analysis within group I demonstrated that it was higher in patients with metastatic disease (6.8 vs 9.3 p