CD66b+ neutrophils and α-SMA+ fibroblasts predict clinical outcomes and benefits from postoperative chemotherapy in gastric adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Background: Emerging evidence indicates that the tumor microenvironment (TME) influences tumor progression through the various cells it contains. Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are prominent constituents of diverse malignant solid tumors and are crucial in the TME and cancer evolution. However, the relationships and combined prognostic value of these two cell types are not known in gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). Materials and Methods: In total, 215 GAC patients who underwent curative surgery were enrolled. TANs were assessed by immunohistochemical staining for CD66b, and CAFs were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Results: The percentages of patients with high-density TANs and CAFs in GAC tissue were 47.9% (103/215) and 43.3% (93/215), respectively. The densities of TANs and CAFs in GAC tissue samples were markedly elevated and independently correlated with GAC clinical outcomes. A strong correlation (R =.348, P