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Abstract
Angiogenesis is essential for development, growth and advancement of solid tumors.
The tumor-associated macrophage has been recognized among inflammatory cells as a
candidate for supplying tumor angiogenic factors. Interleukin (IL)-8 is assumed to
be a macrophage-derived mediator of angiogenesis. This prompted us to study the clinical
implications of macrophage-derived angiogenesis in uterine endometrial cancers.
Sixty patients underwent curative resection for uterine endometrial cancers. The patient
prognosis was analyzed with a 48 month survival rate after curative resection. In
tissue of uterine endometrial cancers, the levels of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, tumor necrosis
factor-alpha, IL-8, basic fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor
and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor were determined by enzyme immunoassay,
and the localization and counts of microvessels and macrophages were determined by
immunohistochemistry.
There was a significant correlation between microvessel counts and IL-8 levels and
between infiltrated macrophage counts and IL-8 levels in uterine endometrial cancers.
Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the localization of IL-8 was similar to
that of CD68 for macrophages. IL-8 levels were significantly increased during myometrial
invasion from stage Ia to stages Ib through IV.
IL-8 might act as an angiogenic switch in myometrial invasion in stage I uterine endometrial
cancers. Furthermore, IL-8 supplied from infiltrated macrophages within and around
the tumor might not be a prognostic indicator of advancement, but may be associated
with myometrial invasion in uterine endometrial cancers.