Glioma Associated Microglia/Macrophages Distribution is Conserved in Glioblastoma Regrowth: A Morphometric Study

Abstract

We compared the morphological aspect of glioblastoma-associated microglia/macrophages cells in 15 paired recurrent glioblastomas to check the ability of glioblastoma to recreate its microenvironment. The absolute number of GAMs is lower in normal tissue (21/mm²) than in the isolated tumor cells area (100–112/mm²) than in the solid tumor area (212–220/mm²) (p < 0.01). The morphology of GAMs remained the same in each tumor area with a reduced covered area by cell processes (196 to 216/mm²) than in normal tissue (708/mm²) (p < 0.01). In paired tumors, GAMs morphology remained the same in successive resections and was not modified by the treatments.

Keywords:

• Glioblastoma
• microglia
• human
• tumor microenvironment
• macrophages

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Data availability statement

Data available under request to the corresponding author.