Correlation between Tumour Associated Macrophage (TAM) Infiltration and Mitotic Activity in Canine Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Simple Summary Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a class of immune cells present in solid tumors and they are involved in cancer-related inflammation. However, to our knowledge, literature about TAMs in canine soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) is limited to absent. Here we analyzed 38 STSs retrieved from the veterinary pathology archive. Only STSs arising from limbs and the trunk were included. Oral, visceral STSs, and tumors mimicking STSs were excluded. TAMs were identified by means of immunohistochemistry and were counted in 10 consecutive tumors areas, where no confounding factors such as necrosis or other inflammatory cells could be identified. Associations between numbers of TAMs and tumor features were investigated. TAMs were evident in all STSs and ranged between 6% to 62% of the cells in the microscopic field. The number of TAMs positively correlated with the STSs' histologic grade. The present findings suggest that TAMs are present in higher numbers when STSs are of aggressive histological grade and especially in those with a high number of proliferating cancer cells. The abundant presence of TAMs in high grade STSs may also increase the likelihood of a pathologist misdiagnosing STS for tumors where macrophages are the actual cancerous component, such as histiocytic sarcomas. Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are an important part of the tumour microenvironment but knowledge of their distribution in canine soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) is limited to absent. We analysed 38 STSs retrieved from the veterinary pathology archive; oral and visceral STSs, synovial cell sarcoma, tumours of histiocytic origin, haemangiosarcoma, carcinosarcomas, and undifferentiated tumours were excluded. Iba-1 positive, non-neoplastic tumour infiltrating cells (morphologically indicative of macrophages) were classified as TAMs and were counted in 10 consecutive tumours areas, where no necrosis or other inflammatory cells could be identified. Associations between numbers of TAMs and mitoses, differentiation, and necrosis scores or grade were investigated. TAMs were evident in all STSs and ranged between 6% to 62% of the cells in the microscopic field. The number of TAMs positively correlated with the STSs' histologic grade. When the components of the grade were analysed separately, TAMs were statistically correlated with mitoses, but not with differentiation or necrosis score. The present findings suggest that TAMs are present in higher numbers when STS proliferation is the predominant feature that drives tumour grade. The abundant presence of TAMs in high-grade STSs may also increase the likelihood of a pathologist misdiagnosing STS for histiocytic sarcoma.

Automated summary

Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are identified and counted in canine soft tissue sarcomas (STSs), showing a positive correlation between TAM numbers and histologic grade. TAMs are more abundant in higher grade STSs, leading to a potential risk of misdiagnosis as histiocytic sarcoma by pathologists.