The opposite association encountered here in RME is, however, not without precedent: Cunha et al. found high numbers of macrophages in thyroid cancers linked with favorable outcome, making the authors propose two possible explanations for their exceptional finding: First, macrophages might activate rather than suppress the numerous CD8+ T cells that consistently accompany macrophages in thyroid carcinomas; second, a direct antitumor phagocytic effect of macrophages could be operative50. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and thyroid cancer.