Iranian Journal of Pathology

CD155 Expression in Invasive Breast Carcinoma: Association with Immune Tumor Microenvironment

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Asmaa Abdelkerim
Fatma Mohamed Khairy Ibrahim
Radwa Oreiby
Aliaa Atef
Karima El-Desouky

Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

10.30699/ijp.2026.2070624.3530
Abstract
Background & Objective: CD155 is an immune checkpoint molecule that interacts with various activating and inhibitory receptors on T- lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). NK cells and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) are major components of the immune TME.
Methods: 85 cases of invasive breast carcinoma (IBC) were evaluated for immunohistochemical expression of CD155, CD56, and CD163.
Results: CD155 was positive in 52.9% of cases, and was significantly associated with larger sized, higher grade, advanced stage tumors, positive lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and aggressive molecular subtypes of IBC. High density of CD56 stained tumor infiltrating NK cells was detected in 30.6% of cases, which was significantly related to larger sized, higher-grade tumors, and aggressive molecular subtypes. High density of stromal TAMs was detected in 55.3% of cases, and was significantly associated with large tumor sizes, higher grade, advanced stage, positive LVI, and aggressive molecular subtypes. CD155 expression was significantly correlated with the densities of NK cells and TAMs in TME. 
Conclusion: CD155 expression, high density of tumor infiltrating NK cells, and high density of stromal TAMs contribute to the progression of IBC. CD155 can play an important immunoregulatory role in the TME.

Keywords

CD155
CD56
tumor infiltrating natural killer cells
CD163
tumor associated macrophages
breast carcinoma

Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Pathology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 25 February 2026

  • Receive Date 02 September 2025
  • Accept Date 03 February 2026

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