Features of CD163+ and HLA-DR+ expression on blood monocytes associated with breast cancer

Circulating monocytes are important actors of the tumor growth pathogenesis. It has been shown that some features of the monocyte populations expressing endocytosis receptors or the major histocompatibility complex components are observed in blood of patients with breast cancer. The study was aimed to assess the relationship of tumor parameters and blood cytokine profile with the composition of circulating monocyte populations in patients with localized and locally advanced breast cancer. The study has shown that the circulating monocytes’ phenotypic characteristics are correlated to the clinical and morphological features of the neoplastic process. The content of populations with the CD14+CD16++CD163+ and CD14++CD16+CD163+ phenotypes positively correlates with the disease stage, while larger primary tumor size is associated with lower CD14+CD16++ monocyte levels. Elevated serum levels of IL8 and МСР-1 are observed in breast cancer patients. High IL6 levels in patients with breast cancer are associated with the reduced percentage of CD14++CD16-HLA-DR+, CD14+CD16++HLA-DR+ and CD14++CD16-СD163+ monocytes. Thus, CD163+ and HLA-DR+ monocytes are associated with the clinical and morphological parameters and blood levels of cytokines, which suggests that these populations are involved in breast cancer progression and indicates that further research is advisable for translation of the findings into clinical practice.