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Prognostic impact of tumor-associated macrophage infiltration in esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis

    Jiangfen Li

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    ,
    Yufang Xie

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    ,
    Xueli Wang

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    ,
    Feng Li

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    Department of Pathology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China

    ,
    Shugang Li

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    ,
    Man Li

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    ,
    Hao Peng

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    ,
    Lan Yang

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    ,
    Chunxia Liu

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    ,
    Lijuan Pang

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    ,
    Hong Zou

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    ,
    Jin Zhao

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    ,
    Yan Qi

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    ,
    Yuwen Cao

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    &
    Jianming Hu

    *Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: jianming.120@163.com

    Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Xinjiang 832002, PR China

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/fon-2018-0669

    Aim: To provide clarity surrounding the association between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and esophageal cancer prognosis. Materials & methods: Several databases were searched. The meta-analysis was conducted by using software Stata 12.0 and Revman. Results: Sixteen studies were included in this analysis (2292 samples). CD68+ TAM density was not associated with overall survival (OS; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.67–1.15; p = 0.33) and disease-free survival (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.66–2.35; p = 0.49). M2-like TAMs were associated with poor overall survival (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.10–1.98; p = 0.01), Tumor, Node, Metastasis staging and vessel metastasis. Conclusion: CD68+ TAM density is not associated with esophageal cancer progression, while CD163+ M2-like TAMs is a potential risk factor.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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