# Differential association of CD68+ and CD163+ macrophages with macrophage enzymes, whole tumour gene expression and overall survival in advanced melanoma

## TL;DR

This study explores how different types of macrophages in melanoma tumors affect gene expression and patient survival.

## Contribution

The study identifies distinct functional differences between CD68+ and CD163+ macrophages in melanoma.

## Key findings

- CD68+ macrophages are linked to increased iNOS and arginase activity and altered gene expression.
- CD163+ macrophages accumulate in larger tumors but show no functional activity or gene expression changes.
- Neither macrophage subset correlates with overall patient survival.

## Abstract

The density and phenotype of tumour-associated macrophages have been linked with prognosis in a range of solid tumours. While there is strong preclinical evidence that tumour-associated macrophages promote aspects of tumour progression, it can be challenging to infer clinical activity from surface markers and ex vivo behaviour. We investigated the association of macrophage infiltration with prognosis and functional changes in the tumour microenvironment in primary human melanoma.

Fifty-seven formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary melanomas were analysed by immunohistochemical analysis of CD68, CD163, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase expression. RNA sequencing was performed on serial sections of 20 of the stained tumours to determine the influence of macrophage infiltration on gene expression.

CD68+ cells are a functionally active subset of macrophages that are associated with increased iNOS and arginase staining and altered gene expression. In comparison, while there is a greater accumulation of CD163+ macrophages in larger tumours, these cells are comparatively inactive, with no association with the level of iNOS or arginase staining, and no effect on gene expression within the tumour. The infiltration of either subset of macrophages did not correlate to overall survival.

Thus, melanomas contain distinct macrophage populations with diverse phenotypes, but with no observable prognostic role.