Abstract
Introduction: Histopathological analysis of tumors has revealed the infiltration of inflammatory and lymphocytic cells. Detailed intra-tumor analysis illustrates that these immune infiltrates are not randomly distributed.
Aims and Objectives: This study was undertaken to analyze tumor- infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in the core of the tumor and in the peripheral blood of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subjected to surgery.
Methods: Study subjects were patients undergoing lung resection. A total of 20 patients with NSCLC were included in the series.
Statistical analysis: Differences in TIL expression between the core of the tumor and peripheral blood were assessed with the Mann-Whitney U Test.
Results: Statistically significant differences in mean ranges were found between the two samples (core of tumor and peripheral blood) in CD3, CD20, CD56, CD445RO, CD4DR, CD4Treg, CD8CD57, and CD8DR cells. The tumor core sample showed a higher proportion of T-CD3 cells and B-CD20 cells and a smaller proportion of NK cells. The predominant phenotype in the TILs corresponded to partially activated DR+- effector-memory CD4/45RO and CD45RO/CD4 cells. Strikingly, however, a significant proportion of CD4 cells had a Treg phenotype (CD4/CD25++/CD127 low). We also observed an association between the CD8/regulatory T-cell ratio and tumor stage. In addition, a higher proportion of DR cells in a sample was associated with a better tumor stage.
Conclusions: TILs significantly differ between the core of the tumor and peripheral blood, with significant changes in the proportion of T, B, and NK cells.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015