Polarization and Distribution of Tumor-Associated Macrophages and COX-2 Expression in Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Ocular Adnexae.

The findings indicate that COX-2 represents a factor for invasion of BCC. Macrophage polarization did not play a major role for aggressive behavior. However, other inflammatory components than tumor-associated macrophages seem to be involved in tissue destruction and thereby an invading growth pattern since fibrosing BCC revealed a significantly more intense inflammatory reaction in the surrounding tissue.