Intratumoral CD8 super(+) T Lymphocytes as a Prognostic Factor of Survival in Endometrial Carcinoma

PURPOSE: CTLs are a prominent immune component infiltrating many solid tumors. These cells are considered to be a manifestation of host-immune response to the tumor; however, their prognostic significance remains a subject of considerable debate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the distr...

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Published in:Clinical cancer research 2004-07, Vol.10 (13), p.4450-4456
Main Authors: Kondratiev, Svetlana, Sabo, Edmond, Yakirevich, Evgeny, Lavie, Ofer, Resnick, Murray B
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:PURPOSE: CTLs are a prominent immune component infiltrating many solid tumors. These cells are considered to be a manifestation of host-immune response to the tumor; however, their prognostic significance remains a subject of considerable debate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution pattern and prognostic value of CD8 super(+) T cells in endometrial carcinoma. Experimental Design: We studied 90 cases of endometrial carcinoma, including 75 endometrioid and 15 papillary serous carcinomas. Immunohistochemical staining for CD8 and granzyme B was performed on paraffin- embedded sections. The number of immunohistochemically staining CD8 super(+) T cells was enumerated in the following four regions: lymphocytes infiltrating the tumor epithelium at the invasive border, within the underlying tumor stroma, within the superficial tumor epithelium, and in the perivascular areas of the myometrium. RESULTS: Patients with >10 CD8 super(+) T lymphocytes/high-power field within the tumor epithelium at the invasive border displayed improved overall survival compared with patients with fewer intraepithelial CD8 super(+) T lymphocytes (87 and 50%, respectively; P = 0.027). Multivariate analysis revealed that stage, vascular invasion, grade, and the number of intraepithelial CD8 super(+) T lymphocytes at the invasive border were the only independent predictors of survival (P < 0.0001, P = 0.001, P = 0.011, and P = 0.025, respectively). Granzyme B super(+) cytoplasmatic granules were detected in a high proportion of CTLs, confirming their activated cytotoxic phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates for the first time that increased numbers of CTLs at the invasive border may be a reliable independent prognostic factor of survival in patients with endometrial carcinoma.
ISSN:1078-0432