BACKGROUND

Meningioma, a most common brain tumor, has a high rate of recurrence. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant immune cell type in meningioma. TAMs display functional phenotypic diversity and may establish either an inflammatory and anti-tumoral or an immunosuppressive and pro-tumoral microenvironment. TAM subtypes present in meningioma and potential contribution to growth and recurrence is unknown.

METHODS

Immunofluorescence staining was used to quantify M1 and M2 TAM populations in tissues obtained from 30 meningioma patients. Associations between M1 and M2 cells, M1:M2 cell ratio to tumor characteristics, WHO grade, recurrence, size, location, peri-tumoral edema, and patient demographics such as age and sex were examined.

RESULTS

TAM cells accounted for ~18% of all cells in meningioma tissues. More than 80% of infiltrating TAMs were found to be of pro-tumoral M2 phenotype and correlated to tumor size ( = .0409). M1:M2 cell ratio was significantly decreased in WHO grade II, compared to grade I tumors ( = .009). Furthermore, a 2.3-fold difference in M1:M2 ratio between primary (0.14) and recurrent (0.06) tumors was observed ( = 18 and 12 respectively, = .044).

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to confirm existence of pro-tumoral M2 TAMs in the meningioma microenvironment, emphasizing its potential role in tumor growth and recurrence.