GM-CSF Production by Tumor Cells Is Associated with Improved Survival in Colorectal Cancer

Experimental Design: GM-CSF or M-CSF-stimulated peripheral blood CD14(+) cells from healthy donors were cocultured with colorectal cancer cells. Tumor cell proliferation was assessed by H-3-thymidine incorporation. Expression of cytokine genes in colorectal cancer and autologous healthy mucosa was tested by quantitative, real-time PCR. A tumor microarray (TMA) including >1,200 colorectal cancer specimens was stained with GM-CSF- and M-CSF-specific antibodies. Clinicopathological features and overall survival were analyzed.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer infiltration by CD16(+) myeloid cells correlates with improved prognosis. We addressed mechanistic clues and gene and protein expression of cytokines potentially associated with macrophage polarization.