Characteristics of the receptor phenotype of tumor-associated immune cells of the epithelial-mesenchymal microenvironment of ovarian cancer

Among all histological types, serous carcinomas account for up to 85%. Due to pronounced heterogeneity (at the molecular and genetic level) and chemoresistance, difficulties arise in finding active targets for tumor elimination. Aim. To establish a link between the population composition of tumor-associated immune cells of the microenvironment and the stage of serous ovarian cancer. Materials and methods. The analysis of the pathologic and anatomical material in 74 patients with serous ovarian cancer was carried out. Monoclonal antibodies were used to determine antigens in the samples: CD3, CD4, CD8, CD11b, CD14 and CD16. Results. The obtained results of the immunohistochemical study showed that in the composition of the immune cells of the microenvironment, the largest number of cells, at all stages (IIV) of the oncological process, are represented by macrophages (CD11b+, CD14+), CD3+ lymphocytes are in second place in terms of the number of cells, followed by CD8+ and CD4+ and the smallest number of CD16+ cells. Conclusion. As a result of the immunohistochemical study, a multidirectional trend was found between the population composition of tumor-associated immune cells of the microenvironment and the stage of serous ovarian cancer. With an increase in the stage of the disease, the number of macrophages (CD11b+, CD14+) and lymphocytes (CD3+, CD16+) decreased regardless of the degree of differentiation of the tumor. With an increase in the tumor stage, the number of CD4+ and CD8+ populations decreased, but in this case, the degree of differentiation played a significant role, i.e. the higher the tumor stage and the lower the degree of differentiation, the fewer cells were detected.