The anti-inflammatory/pro-tumorigenic activation of microglia/macrophages is characterized by reduced levels of iNOS expression and NO release, impaired phagocytic abilities which are important for their anti-tumor response55, and elevated levels of ARG1, CD163, CD206 and a number of cytokines including IL-10 and TGF-β10,56. This evidence concerns the gene CD163 and neoplasm.