Rania Makboul - Department of Pathology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
Abeer Refaiy - Department of Pathology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
Rabab Mohamed - Department of Pathology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
Alia Attia - Department of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
Dalia Osama - Department of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
Amany El Emary - Department of Medical Oncology and Hematological Malignancy, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
Abeer Ibrahim - Department of Medical Oncology and Hematological Malignancy, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

Background: Tumor microenvironment, specifically tumor-associated macrophages, plays an important role in tumor initiation and progression. CD۱۶۳ has been recognized as a valuable specific macrophage marker. Cyclooxygenase-۲ (Cox۲) plays a role in tumor progression. CD۳۱ is reliable for estimation of the density of microvesseles (MVD), which has prognostic importance in several malignant tumors. Thus, the current study was conducted to test the association between CD۱۶۳, Cox۲, and CD۳۱ expression with the prognosis of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) patients and their potential correlation with clinicopathological variables.Method: CD۱۶۳, Cox۲, and CD۳۱ expressions were examined in newly diagnosed patients with cHL through immunohistochemistry on tissue biopsy and the results were correlated with the patients’ outcome after the median follow-up, which was about ۳۵ months.Results: ۱۰۴ patients were included in this study. High CD۱۶۳ was found in ۳۲.۷% of the patients. Cox۲ was positive in ۴۲.۳% of them. CD ۳۱ with high MVD (≥۱۰%) was found in ۵۱% of the subjects. A significant association was detected between CD۱۶۳ and Cox۲ with tumor stage (P = ۰.۰۰۱, and P = ۰.۰۰۱) and IPS score. Regarding CD۳۱, we could not find any significant associations with disease parameters, except with histological subtype (P = ۰.۰۰۱). A significant relationship was observed between Cox۲ and CD۱۶۳ expression and the relapse rate (P = ۰.۰۰۱, P = ۰.۰۱, respectively). Regarding survival, only Cox۲ showed a significant association with disease-free survival (P = ۰.۰۳۷۹).Conclusion: These findings suggested that Cox۲ and CD۱۶۳ expression can be used as predicator for early relapse and as new therapeutic targets in cHL.

Hodgkin disease, Tumor Microenvironment, CD۱۶۳, Cox۲