CD163 and cancer: To differentiate between M1-like macrophages (effector cells for the elimination of pathogens, viral infected cells and malignant cells), and M2-like macrophages (cells that promote cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis by producing various mediators) [40, 41], we performed a staining to detect CD163, a marker for activation of tumor associated macrophages, i.e. TAMs or M2-like macrophages.