Iranian Journal of Pathology

A Retrospective Cohort Study Assessing the Prognostic Significance of Tumor-Associated Macrophages (TAMs) in Gastric Cancer in the Indian Population

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Muskaan Arora 1
Saraswathy Sreeram 2
Adarsh Sugathan 3
Hema Kini 2
Pooja Suresh 2
Jyoti Kini 2

1 Trauma and Orthopaedics, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, UK

2 Department of Pathology, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India

3 Department of Internal Medicine, Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Ambedkar Circle, Mangalore, India

10.30699/ijp.2026.2065021.3486
Abstract
Background & Objective: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are key components of the tumor microenvironment and may hold prognostic significance in gastric cancer (GC). Limited data are available from the Indian population.
Methods: In this retrospective study, CD68 immunohistochemistry was performed on 60 surgically resected gastric adenocarcinomas. TAM density was quantified as the average number of positive cells per high-power field and categorised into low and high groups using a cutoff of 50 cells/HPF. Associations with clinicopathological features were analysed using chi-square and logistic regression.
Results: High TAM density was observed in 70% of cases and was significantly associated with larger tumor size (p = 0.05), increased tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (p = 0.021), advanced pT stage (p = 0.007), lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001), and advanced clinical stage (p = 0.009). On multivariate analysis, lymph node metastasis remained an independent predictor of high TAM density (adjusted OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.02–6.2; p = 0.04).
Conclusion: CD68+ TAM density correlates with adverse pathological features in GC and may serve as a useful prognostic marker for patient risk stratification.

Keywords

Stomach Neoplasms
Tumour-associated macrophages
Immunotherapy
Prognosis
Tumour microenvironment
India

Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Pathology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 February 2026

  • Receive Date 07 July 2025
  • Revise Date 29 August 2025
  • Accept Date 03 February 2026

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