Prognostic significance of the infiltration of CD163+ macrophages combined with CD66b+ neutrophils in gastric cancer

Abstract The polarization of tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor‐associated neutrophils (TANs), especially from the antitumoral phenotype to the protumoral phenotype under certain conditions, has an important influence on the progression of tumors. However, the interactions and combined prognosis of these cells are poorly known. Here, we detected the infiltration of CD68+ TAMs, CD163+ TAMs, and CD66b+ TANs in the specimens from 662 patients with GC by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the infiltration of each of CD163+, CD68+, and CD66b+ cells in GC tissue was significantly increased and independently associated with GC prognosis. Strong collinearity (r = 0.690, P