Characterisation and impact of intratumoural stroma in melanoma and carcinoma brain metastases.

ABSTRACT: Research on the tumour microenvironment in brain metastases (BM) has predominantly focused on the immune response, while the presence, morphological patterns, and potential clinical relevance of intratumoural stroma remain less intensively investigated. We retrospectively analysed 604 BM (529 carcinomas, 75 melanomas) from 556 patients. Intratumoural stroma was histomorphologically classified into absent/unclear (Group 0), present without desmoplasia (Group 1) or with desmoplasia (Group 2). Associations with histological features, clinical parameters, and survival were evaluated. Intratumoural stroma was absent in 63.2% of tumours (n = 382), was present without desmoplasia in 14.9% (n = 90), and was desmoplastic in 21.9% (n = 132). Desmoplasia was most frequent in metastases from breast ca

SUBMITTER: Bandke D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12664527 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature